Jackson Hole Looks South As American Airlines Launches Nonstop Flights From Miami

Jackson Hole is looking south to attract new visitors. Its sights are set on both South Florida and further south, as in South America. The focus follows an announcement by American Airlines this summer that the airline will launch nonstop flights between its Miami hub and the Wyoming resort town.

Tourism executives visiting South Florida say the new flights are essential as, unlike ski destinations such as Aspen, Vail and Whistler, the gateway to two national parks doesn’t have a local drive market. Salt Lake City, for example, is a five-hour drive.

Kent Elliott, Director of Destination Global Sales for Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, says the new flights will help build international visitors with affluent South Americans who have second homes in Miami.

The new flights start December 15 and run through April 3. Flights are daily except from January 11 through February 15, when they will operate weekly.

The 8:04 am departures from MIA arrive at 11:31 am, meaning you can be on the slopes by early afternoon. Return flights are scheduled for 11:48 am, landing in Florida at 6:44 pm, providing direct connections to and from South America.

The new flights are aboard an Airbus A319 with eight seats in first class and 120 seats in coach. Flight time is blocked at 5 hours and 27 minutes going westbound, with the return at 4 hours and 56 minutes.

According to Jackson Hole officials, they are not underwriting the new flight; however, they will support the service with local marketing in South Florida. Their visit included a media luncheon and sales calls to travel agencies and tour operators.

The extra airlift comes at a time that visitor count to the gateway to the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks is softening.

Eric Seymour, Director of Brand Communications for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, one of three ski mountains in the area, says after droves of visitors in 2020 and 2021, as travelers sought destinations where they could enjoy the outdoors and socially distance, competition is again global.

“Some of the people who came during the pandemic went back to Europe this year,” he says.

There are currently three Forbes-rated hotels in the area: Four Seasons Resort and Residence holds five stars, while Amangani and Hotel Jackson each are rated with four stars. Noble House, which operates two hotels, also offers Teton Private Residences with rental homes spanning up to 5,100 square feet.

Elliott says while Jackson Hole is known as a ski destination, with over 60 galleries, there is a strong arts and culture community, and a burgeoning culinary scene spurred by local breweries and distilleries.

During Covid, he says visitors arriving in private jets and RVs came to recognize the area for its natural beauty, abundant wildlife, Old West, and ranch lifestyle again broadening its appeal.

According to data from the airport, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines, as well as their regional affiliates, have been flying to JAC in 2022. Load factor through August stood at 75.73% with 277,573 enplanements from 66.8% with 508,838 enplanements for the entire year last year. In 2019 load factor for airlines serving Jackson Hotel was 81.75%, with 454,629 enplanements for the 12 months.

Last month the airport board approved expanding a voluntary private jet curfew between 9:30 pm and 7 am. Previously the curfew had run from 11:30 pm to 6 am for arrivals and 6 am to 10 pm for departures. Teton County where it is based has an adjusted gross income $312,442, highest in the country.