Frontier Airlines Unveils New Fall Routes With Emphasis On Shorter Flights

U.S. ULCC Frontier Airlines unveiled 11 new services it plans to open in October and November, mostly shorter routes reflecting the decreasing stage length of the carrier’s flights.

Three of the routes will be from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), including two connecting the Delta Air Lines hub with two East Coast United Airlines hubs.

From Nov. 4, the all-Airbus A320 family aircraft operator will open daily service between ATL and Newark, New Jersey. Ten days later, the carrier will commence daily flights between ATL and Washington Dulles (IAD). From Oct. 11, the ULCC will fly 3X-weekly between ATL and Austin, Texas.

In a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing accompanying its second-quarter results, the airline noted that the average stage length of its flights in the three months ended June 30 had decreased 13% year-over-year to 899 mi., down from 1,038 mi. in the 2023 second quarter.

Like other U.S. airlines, Frontier reported “weak domestic pricing as seat growth outpaced seasonal demand [in the second quarter]." 

"The above-average concentration of capacity allocated to new markets … led to lower load factors,” the carrier added.

Frontier’s total revenue per passenger decreased 14% year-over-year in the second quarter, and the carrier is pursuing more revenue with a new tiered product model being promoted with the tagline, “The New Frontier.” The airline says it is making “sweeping changes to its product,” exemplified by the “UpFront Plus” offering in which passengers are guaranteed an aisle or window seat in the first two rows of the cabin with no occupant in the middle seat.

Included in the new routes launching in the fall are three from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in southern California. From Nov. 21, the airline will open 4X-weekly flights between BUR and Phoenix and daily service between BUR and San Francisco (SFO). From Nov. 22, Frontier will start 3X-weekly flights between BUR and its Denver base.

From Oct. 27, the carrier will start two daily routes from New York John F. Kennedy International to Florida destinations Orlando (MCO) and Tampa. From Nov. 14, the airline will also commence 4X-weekly service between IAD and MCO. 

The other new Frontier routes opening in the fall are Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky to Sarasoata, Florida (1X-weekly from Oct. 12), and Salt Lake City to Seattle-Tacoma (3X-weekly from Oct. 11).