SkyWest Airlines expects a smoother ride into Aspen this winter.

The carrier, which handles regional jet flights for United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, plans to boost service levels in Aspen after weather-related issues and other problems last winter led to an avalanche of delays and cancellations.

"Obviously last winter we had some different challenges," said Marissa Snow, a spokeswoman for SkyWest. "But we met with community leaders and airport officials to emphasize the importance of Aspen for us" and to outline service improvements.

The carrier’s plan calls for bolstering staff in Aspen and Denver, expediting the movement of excess bags, improving communications and spending more time training employees.

SkyWest also has tweaked how it diverts planes in severe weather.

The carrier worked with both United and Delta on the changes.

"Aspen is a very important community to United," United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said. "We are very confident in their plan."

SkyWest experienced challenges in Aspen last winter on multiple fronts.

Aside from severe weather that affected all airlines, SkyWest encountered a problem — which it has since fixed — that prevented its planes from flying in certain barometric pressures.

It also reportedly didn’t have enough employees at the airport to help passengers as cancellations and delays mounted.

Aspen officials have said they believe most of the problems will be solved.

"Many valuable lessons were learned this past winter," Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass, said in a news release.

Aspen also is getting more United Express service this winter. United will add a third daily nonstop flight between Aspen and Chicago, up from two last winter. The new service starts Dec. 15.