Sitting at the airport waiting for a flight in Aspen is very different from waiting in LAX or any major travel hub. It’s more like a local bus station at times, not least because you know most of the staff and many of the passengers. During school holidays, especially, the airport feels less like a transit terminal and more like a small social gathering. Familiar faces move through the gates exchanging hugs, travel plans, and stories of where they’re headed for the summer holidays.