Industry News
One of Italy’s favorite ski areas is getting a massive upgrade.
The La Thuile ski area in the Aosta Valley has announced plans for its $38.7 million cable car project. The new 10-passenger Les Suches-Chaz Dura cable car is one of the region’s most significant modernization projects in recent history and will be ready to go for the 2026-27 ski season.
With the new cable car, La Thuile aims to make access to the Les Duches-Chaz Dura region safer, more comfortable, and faster by replacing the historic La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts. It will also improve the connection to La Rosière with La Thuile. La Rosière, located in France, is connected to La Thuile via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass. Access to the pass will be improved with the new cable car.
Manufactured by Italian ropeway builder Leitner, the Les Suches-Chaz Dura system will carry passengers 1,950 meters to the car’s top station at 2,576 meters, according to SkiResortInfo. With a carrying capacity of 3,000 people per hour and a ride time of six minutes, it sharply improves uphill capacity while reducing travel time.
Saying Goodbye to Two Historic Chairlifts
The La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts have loyally served La Thuile’s skiers for nearly forty years. Installed in 1988 and 1986 respectively, the three-person lifts served as key access routes to the upper part of the La Thuile ski area.
With the new cable car, the two lift routes will be concentrated into a single modern lift with a greater carrying capacity than the two lifts combined. The enclosed 10-seat cabins will provide greater capacity while protecting skiers from cold temperatures and high winds.
Greater Access to Espace San Bernardo
The Les Suches-Chaz Dura route provides key access for skiers heading toward the Petit-Saint-Bernard area and onward to La Rosière. Together, La Thuile and La Rosière form the Espace San Bernardo, one of the few international ski areas in the Alps where it’s possible to ski across the border between Italy and France.
Concentrating the connection into a single cable car will streamline traffic, reduce lift changes, and improve the experience for skiers heading to the highest slopes in the area.
Improved Comfort and a Panoramic Station
Given its alpine location, La Thuile can often experience high winds that affect lift operations. Compared to a traditional lift, a gondola offers greater protection for skiers during the ride. The car’s enclosed cabins will make the ride more comfortable for families and children, as well as those carrying backpacks or equipment. The new system will also be more functional on days with intense cold or changing weather conditions.
In addition to comfortable cabins, the Les Suches-Chaz Dura’s upper station will be housed in a contemporary building designed to become a new panoramic landmark for the area. The building will house catering facilities, rest areas, and a viewing platform overlooking the Aosta Valley mountains. With it, La Thuile hopes to provide a place accessible not only to skiers, but also to hikers and visitors during the summer season.
Scheduled for This Winter
After receiving a positive assessment environmental assessment with requirements from the Aosta Valley Autonomous Region, crews have started working on the project, according to Italy’s SkiMania. The gondola’s inauguration is scheduled for this coming season, with Les Suches-Chaz Dura ready to become one of the most prominent innovations of the 2026-27 Italian ski season.
For skiers planning to visit La Thuile, the gondola’s shorter wait times, larger capacity, and comfortable ride are expected to make the ski area’s experience that much better.
