Frontier Airways kicked off 2024 with a serious community shake-up, and it is doing the identical once more as we enter the yr’s stretch run.
The Denver-based ultra-low-cost service introduced 16 new routes Tuesday that can launch towards the tail finish of the winter season.
We are saying “new,” however, in some methods, this community realignment will see Frontier dial the clock again a couple of years. The airline is bringing again a slew of flights it flew throughout the latter a part of the 2010s and the earliest a part of this decade.
Retooling in Austin
Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport (AUS) will acquire probably the most Frontier flights.
Beginning in early March, the airline will start flying 4 new routes from the Texas capital. That features nonstop service to Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO), Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Worldwide Airport (CVG) and Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX).
Worth examine: Are airline bank cards value it anymore?
Beneath, take a look at what the airline’s route map from Austin seems like at the moment versus what it’s going to appear to be in March, as proven by Cirium.
It is one thing of a rebuild in Austin for Frontier. The service’s seats from the airport this yr are down roughly 35%, per Cirium, versus what they had been in 2019 when the airline served a strong set of locations.
Including again some Florida capability
Different winners in Frontier’s announcement had been two main Florida airports: MCO and Tampa Worldwide Airport (TPA), which respectively gained 4 and three new locations.
Day by day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
That transfer comes after Frontier spent a lot of 2024 chopping capability out of Orlando, as a glut of flights to the favored Central Florida trip spot drove down fares — and airways’ income within the course of.
Frontier additionally introduced a brand new intra-Caribbean route from Luis Muñoz Marín Worldwide Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to V.C. Chicken Worldwide Airport (ANU) in Antigua and Barbuda.
Frontier’s 16 new routes
Here is the total rundown of Frontier’s 16 routes launching this winter.
| Route | Launches | Frequency | Final served |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJU to ANU | Feb. 15 | Weekly | New; Frontier final flew to Antigua and Barbuda in 2022 |
| AUS to Indianapolis Worldwide Airport (IND) | March 7 | Thrice weekly | 2016 |
| AUS to MCO | March 6 | Thrice weekly | 2021 |
| AUS to ORD | March 6 | Thrice weekly | 2019-20 |
| AUS to CVG | March 7 | Twice weekly | 2019 |
| AUS to PHX | March 7 | Twice weekly | 2018 |
| Hartford’s Bradley Worldwide Airport (BDL) to Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) | Feb. 13 | Twice weekly | 2021 |
| Nashville Worldwide Airport (BNA) to MCO | March 7 | Thrice weekly | Earlier in 2024 |
| Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) to Tucson Worldwide Airport (TUS) | March 3 | Thrice weekly | 2021 |
| DEN to Reno-Tahoe Worldwide Airport (RNO) | March 7 | Thrice weekly | 2021 |
| Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to TPA | March 6 | Thrice weekly | New |
| IND to TPA | March 6 | Thrice weekly | 2018 |
| Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) to RNO | March 7 | Thrice weekly | 2023 |
| Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to MCO | March 6 | Day by day | 2021 |
| Oklahoma Metropolis’s Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) to MCO | March 7 | Twice weekly | 2021 |
| Milwaukee Mitchell Worldwide Airport (MKE) to TPA | March 7 | Twice weekly | 2022 |
Frontier didn’t notice any route cuts made as a part of Tuesday’s announcement, however the airline has made scores of route cuts over the course of 2024, too.
The service has overhauled the place — and when — it flies this yr in an effort to spice up its profitability. The airline has targeted extra closely on giant and medium cities in hopes of transporting passengers flying to go to buddies and family. This fall, the airline additionally minimize flights on low-demand midweek days whereas honing in on peak leisure journey days of the week, reminiscent of Fridays and Sundays.
Talking this month on the service’s third-quarter earnings name, CEO Barry Biffle stated the corporate has begun to see its monetary returns enhance after lower-than-expected fares this summer season — and earlier within the yr — minimize into Frontier’s income.
“I feel now, as we transfer to the winter season, we’re optimistic that’s going to alter,” Biffle instructed analysts.
After all, vacationers attempting to find a discount can maintain out hope that fares will stay low.
Associated studying:
