Starting this December, United Airlines will offer commercial service to Mammoth Lakes/Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop, CA. Flights will come in from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver.
According to an article from Siera Wave Media, the flights will begin in mid-December, just in time for prime time ski season. Bishop, CA is located approximately 45-minutes from Mammoth Lakes and shuttle service will be available. Obviously, the Mammoth ski area is a huge draw, it gets nuked with snow, has killer terrain, and has a long season due to its altitude. In addition, the entire Eastern Sierra also offers top-notch backcountry skiing, particularly spring corn skiing. It is also a destination for rock climbers.
This is a big deal. Traffic from San Francisco and L.A. is legendary and these flights could be a viable option for some skiers who want to skip the drive. Previously, if you were flying to ski Mammoth, you would fly into Reno, NV, and then make the three-hour drive south. The Eastern Sierra Regional Airport could open up some other options.
Images from: Mammoth Mountain Facebook Page, United Airlines Facebook Page