Aspen Airways began as an air-taxi opperator within Colorado. It applied for and was granted a certificate to fly interstate and started service to New Mexico and California. Upon arrival of jet aircraft in 1985 it expanded rapidly. On September 1, 1986, Aspen operated as a United Express carrier. In October 1989, the privately held airline was sold and the new owners elected to sell off the airline. Some assets were sold to Mesa Airlines early in 1990 and the jet operations was sold to the parent airline of Air Wisconson Services, Inc. on May 2, 1990. Air Wisconsin Services continued to operate Aspen Airways as a wholly owned subsidiary separate from its Air Wisconsin airline from 1990 until 1991 when it merged the two airlines together.