Frontier Airlines Reveals Latest Domestic Network Expansion

US carrier Frontier Airlines has announced plans to introduce new links from Orlando to Greensboro and Trenton and resume flights from its Denver International Airport base to Fargo, one of its initial markets when it was established in the mid-1990s.

The new three times weekly Orlando International – Greensboro Piedmont Triad International route will commence on November 17, 2012 and the airline will be the sole carrier providing services on the route, although Allegiant Air also provides links from the North Carolina facility to Florida with flights to Orlando Sanford and St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, while American Eagle provides links to the American Airlines hub at Miami International Airport.

“With the addition of Frontier’s nonstop service to Orlando, customers in the Triad region can now enjoy a low fare option into Orlando’s most convenient airport, where you’re closer to all the key attractions,” said Daniel Shurz, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Frontier Airlines.

This launch will follow just a day after Frontier Airlines starts flights between Orlando International and Trenton-Mercer Airport in New Jersey. The twice weekly link starts on November 16, 2012 and will be one of only two scheduled routes from the small facility that currently mainly handles general and corporate aviation traffic.

“The addition of Trenton-Mercer Airport is exciting for Frontier as we introduce our high value low fare service to the southern New Jersey region,” explained Daniel Shurz. “Frontier customers will enjoy the unmatched convenience of the Trenton-Mercer Airport versus the two congested, high fare hubs in the region, as they travel nonstop to the major leisure attractions of Orlando and the central Florida area.”

Formerly known as Mercer County, the airport is situated in Ewing, New Jersey and is the sixth busiest in the area. The only other current scheduled route is a Public Service route to Bedford flown by an Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia.

“This is an exciting development for our region,” said Brian M. Hughes, Mercer County Executive. “More than any other destination, residents of Mercer County have made it clear to me that Orlando tops their list, and I am so pleased that we are able to deliver. We welcome Frontier Airlines to the Trenton-Mercer Family, and we are confident they will have the same success here that they’ve celebrated nationwide.” Both Frontier Airlines’ new routes from Orlando International will be operated using a 138-seat Airbus A319.

The expansion at Orlando International will be complemented by further network growth at Denver International Airport with the launch of a three times weekly link to Fargo, North Dakota from November 9, 2012. This is one week earlier than first announced in response to the “overwhelming community support” for the return of this air link.

Frontier Airlines first had a presence at Hector International Airport in Fargo from August 1994 to September 1996 with non-stop flights to Bismarck, Denver and Grand Forks. “We are excited to bring back service to Fargo, one of Frontier’s original destination markets,” said Daniel Shurz. The airline last served the route between May 2008 and April 2010 using a Lynx Aviation Bombardier Dash 8-Q400.

A new four times weekly link between Denver and Minot will also be introduced from November 5, 2012, bringing an alternative option for passengers on the route. United Airlines introduced flights in June 2010 recently switching its operating partner from SkyWest Airlines to ExpressJet Airlines. “As we’ve continued to enjoy such a fantastic response to our Bismarck and Fargo service, it’s clear there is a considerable need for Frontier’s high-value, low-fare service throughout North Dakota,” said Daniel Shurz. Frontier Airlines will use a 99-seat Embraer 190 on the new service.

These latest announcements follow just a week after the US carrier revealed it would inaugurate flights to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, becoming only the third scheduled airline to utilize the airport, an alternative to Sky Harbor International in Arizona’s largest city. Frontier Airlines is offering a daily Airbus A319 rotation from its Denver base from November 15, 2012, complementing its existing operations between Denver and Phoenix, which serve Sky Harbor International.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…