Las Vegas expansion for Frontier

The ultra-low-fare US carrier, Frontier Airlines announced earlier nine new, non-stop routes, including a significant expansion in Las Vegas with seven new destinations. Additionally, two new options are being added from Cleveland to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Miami. To celebrate this new, low-cost service, Frontier is offering fares as low as $29.

“Today’s announcement marks a considerable expansion of Frontier’s service in Las Vegas and Cleveland,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines. “Frontier is committed to delivering ‘Low Fares Done Right’ and with these new routes, even more, travellers will have the opportunity to fly and fly more often.”

Frontier Airlines Begins New Low-Fare Service from Tyler to Denver

Low-fare carrier, Frontier Airlines is celebrating its start of new service from Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR) to Denver International Airport (DEN). To celebrate the launch of this new, low-cost service, Frontier is offering fares as low as $39.

“We’re delighted to begin the only low-cost service in Tyler with flights to Denver and become only the 2nd airline operating from the airport,” said Kelsy Hustead, Manager of Corporate Communications for Frontier Airlines. “Frontier is always looking for ways to make travel easier and more affordable, and our Kids Fly Free, and Friends Fly Free programs are the latest example of what we mean by Low Fares Done Right.”

8 new routes from Frontier Airlines at Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Photo Frontier / RDU

Frontier Airlines starts eight new low-fare routes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Albany, Boston, Columbus, Hartford, Islip, Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Tampa

The low-cost airline with the infamous animal aircraft tails, Frontier Airlines is celebrating the start of new services from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to eight cities. "We are excited to launch eight new destinations for our customers and proud to offer our unique brand of Low Fares Done Right to Research Triangle travellers,” said Daniel Shurz, Senior Vice President, Commercial for Frontier Airlines. “Frontier is always looking for ways to make travel easier and more affordable, and with more destinations from RDU than any other airline, we’re sure there’s one for every traveller in the region.”

Frontier Airlines - Kids Fly Free

Low fare carrier Frontier Airlines  is celebrating its popular Kids Fly Free program by giving away a trip for four to LEGOLAND® Florida Resort in Orlando, Florida! For your chance to win, show us your kid’s best #GetToGo Dance moves via a short video.

Frontier launched its popular Kids Fly Free program earlier this year as a new benefit to its Discount Den travel club. Children 14 years old and younger fly free when travelling with an adult on select flights. With more than 100 destinations to choose from, Frontier is removing the obstacles for families to travel together whether it’s for a sunny vacation or a visit to grandma’s house. And, for the first time, Frontier has added Kids Fly Free booking opportunities through November of 2019!

How to Enter the LEGOLAND® FLORIDA RESORT Give-Away: Get your camera ready. Tell your kid they can now fly free on Frontier Airlines. Take a video showcasing your kid’s best celebratory dance moves. Upload your video at https://frontier.wyng.com/KidsFlyFree. Videos must be MOV or MP4 files, less than 60 MB, and between five and 15 seconds.

Frontier Airlines giving away a trip for four to Legoland Florida resort

Low fare carrier Frontier Airlines  is celebrating its popular Kids Fly Free program by giving away a trip for four to LEGOLAND® Florida Resort in Orlando, Florida! For your chance to win, show us your kid’s best #GetToGo Dance moves via a short video.

Frontier launched its popular Kids Fly Free program earlier this year as a new benefit to its Discount Den travel club. Children 14 years old and younger fly free when travelling with an adult on select flights. With more than 100 destinations to choose from, Frontier is removing the obstacles for families to travel together whether it’s for a sunny vacation or a visit to grandma’s house. And, for the first time, Frontier has added Kids Fly Free booking opportunities through November of 2019!

How to Enter the LEGOLAND® FLORIDA RESORT Give-Away: Get your camera ready. Tell your kid they can now fly free on Frontier Airlines. Take a video showcasing your kid’s best celebratory dance moves. Upload your video at https://frontier.wyng.com/KidsFlyFree. Videos must be MOV or MP4 files, less than 60 MB, and between five and 15 seconds.

Kid's fly free on Frontier - if you become a member of its travel club.

US ultra-low-cost airline, Frontier is introducing a limited number of free kids flights when travelling with an adult through the airlines Discount Den travel club on qualifying flights.

The kids fly free offer is available on certain key dates and must be purchased by 11:59 pm Eastern time on February 12th, 2019.  More details of the offer are listed below. 

 “Kids Fly Free shows our continued commitment to being America’s affordable and family-friendly airline,” said Barry Biffle, President and CEO of Frontier Airlines. “We’re the only airline going all out for families in this way – it’s exactly what we mean at Frontier by Low Fares Done Right.”

Frontier Airlines’ Pilots Ratify Five-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

The low-cost carrier that some say is putting passenger safety at risk, by fostering and promoting the belief that cabin crew members are just waiters and waitresses with the introduction of mandatory tips on inflight sales as agreed on a deal with its pilots.  

Frontier Airlines and its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), announced the ratification of a new five-year working agreement today. Of the 99 percent of pilots who voted, 77 percent cast ballots in favor of the agreement.

Frontier Airlines’ agreement with ALPA includes an average 53 percent across-the-board pay increase on date of signing, double-digit direct contributions to pilots’ retirement plans, and $75 million in ratification compensation.

Tip the next big thing?

Fancy tails trolling for tips                                                                                         Photo Frontier

Just before 2019 dawned,  JT Genter over at TPG alerted us to an unusual sight, cabin crew from a US budget carrier virtually demanding a tip for selling overpriced drinks on a flight. 

The Indigo Partners airline, Frontier, has introduced a change to its inflight service which now means its in-flight point of sales machines now require a 'gratuity' to be entered when purchasing something from the food and beverage carts.  

Of course, the airline might say, there is an option to decline to pay the tip, however, the castigating looks, tuts and huffs from the cabin crew not to mention the accusatory looks from your seatmates when you click on the 'I prefer not to leave a gratuity' button would surely embarrass most passengers into pressing the minimum amount of 15%!

Photo TPG 

Also,  there is the fear that you'll not be served if you don't tip the crew, who are already earning a wage for pushing the cart passed your seat. Will they still come around a second time if you don't supplement their incomes with excess tipping? Will, they still give you attention in an emergency situation if the tip is skipped when you purchased that $5 can of fizzy pop from them? 

Is this new and rather worrying development from Frontier the latest technique in the USA for airlines to take more of our hard earned cash?  Is tipping about to become commonplace in the industry?   We decided to ask some of the leading US carriers if they planned to follow Frontier in demanding tips from passengers. 

Frontier to launch 22 new routes................

The US low-fare carrier, Frontier Airlines is launching 22 new non-stop routes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). The new services will begin in spring 2019. 

“With the addition of these 22 new routes, Frontier has added its 106th city, Boston, and increased service in 19 other cities across our network,” said Daniel Shurz, Senior Vice President, Commercial for Frontier Airlines. “We continue to make air travel more accessible and affordable for Americans. We look forward to making it easier for people to fly, and for people to fly more often.”

Frontier gets 11th Airbus A320neo from GECAS

Leasing giant GECAS has delivered its eleventh A320 neo to Frontier via a Sale-Leaseback with the company.  The initial delivery in October 2017 marked Frontier’s first neo and subsequent deliveries make Frontier the first operator of a Leap-powered A320neo to be delivered out of Mobile, Alabama.

GECAS previously financed nine A321ceos with Frontier and has commitments for more of the neo variety.  The additional sixteen A320neo’s signify GECAS’ commitment and long-term relationship with the airline. 

“Working with GECAS to introduce the LEAP-powered neo to our fleet has provided us the ability to support our growing fleet requirements with the latest technology and fuel efficiency,” said Robert Fanning, Director of Fleet Transactions at Frontier Airlines.

“Our relationship with Frontier continues to be a remarkable partnership,” says GECAS’ SVP of US Sales & Marketing, James Wenning, “one that we are honoured to have and look forward to continuing for years to come.” -- .

New Low-Cost Non-Stop Service to Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale and Hartford

Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines delivered a special holiday message to Denver last week, announcing the addition of new non-stop service from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, Conn. Service will begin in March 2019. To celebrate the addition of these new flights, Frontier is offering introductory one-way fares as low as $49*, available now on flyfrontier.com.

“With the addition of these three new routes, we now serve 93 cities non-stop from Denver,” said Tyri Squyres, Vice President of Marketing for Frontier Airlines. “As Denver’s hometown airline, we are extremely proud to continue to not only make flying more affordable but to expand the number of non-stop destinations. In fact, in the last year alone, we announced or kicked off 37 new routes from Denver.”

Talks progressing between WOW and Indigo

Indigo Partners, the private equity firm behind Wizz Air, Tiger Airways, Spirit and Frontier confirmed it has been having due diligence meetings this week in Reykjavik as the initial steps to a potential Indigo investment in the financially struggling Icelandic carrier WOW air.  

A team from Indigo Partners spent the last two days with WOW air management to review the business and opportunities of the airline going forward. The overall process is progressing and both parties are working to finalise the investment.  Issues remaining include WOW's planned network development, vendor contracts including aircraft leases and certain waivers from WOW's bondholders. 

"These have been two very good days with detailed discussions around WOW's current business and how we would envision it going forward.  WOW air has a dedicated team and a strong brand that has significant potential," said Bill Franke, Managing Partner of Indigo Partners.

"We are very pleased with the visit from Indigo Partners and it's clear that we can learn a lot from Bill Franke and his team on how to build a successful low-cost airline.  I don't think we can find a better and more experienced partner to bring WOW air to the next level," said Skuli Mogensen, CEO and founder of WOW air.

WOW is advised in this transaction by Plane View Partners LLC, the U.S. air transportation advisory firm.

Fellow Iceland based airline Icelandair had previously been interested in taking over WOW in a share swap deal, however, they pulled out citing deeper debts at WOW as well as not being able to secure enough funding for the operation of the two airlines. 

(Image WOW air)

Frontier Airlines gets a new Airbus A321-200 from Air Lease Corporation

Leasing specialist Air Lease Corporation announced the delivery of one new Airbus A321-200 aircraft on long-term lease to Frontier Airlines on November 29th.

The new jet features CFM International CFM56-5B3/3 engines and is the first of two A321-200 aircraft that Air Lease Corp are to deliver to Frontier Airlines from ALC’s order book with Airbus.

Traditional to Frontier Airlines, this A321-200 aircraft will unveil a new special livery with a “Xavier, The Mountain Goat” animal tail.“ALC is delighted to extend our excellent relationship with Frontier Airlines to include the delivery of this new A321-200 aircraft,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “The A321-200 is a key addition to Frontier’s fleet as the airline continues to excel as an ultra-low-cost carrier within the United States.”

Frontier Airlines heading to Portsmouth

News has reached the Air101 office that the US carrier with the funky fury animals upon its aircraft tails is heading to Portsmouth.

When we saw this on our twitter feed, we were at first a little puzzled, could the ultra-low-cost carrier be stretching its wings and crossing the Atlantic to little old Portsmouth in Hampshire? Then of course we realised that couldn't be true, for Portsmouth Airport closed its doors in the early 1970's and is now little more than a memory!

Of course, Frontier Airlines isn't flying to Portsmouth, Hampshire in the UK, it will, however, be flying in an out of Portsmouth International Airport, in New Hampshire in the USA. The carrier will be operating a service between Portsmouth and Orlando, Florida.  The new service is due to start on 7th December this year and could be the start of more services from the airline at the airport. "With 200 planes on order, we have to put them somewhere, so we're hoping to extend services here at Portsmouth." William Evans a senior manager at Frontier said at a press conference to launch the route. 

Frontier will become the second commercial airline offering flights from Portsmouth to Florida, as  Allegiant Airlines already operates flights to Florida as well as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

Frontier launch new routes including its 100th city served

Frontier Airlines announced has announced the one-hundredth city in the low-fare carrier’s network and the addition of six new routes to its network. The airline will add new, low-fare service to/from Harlingen, Texas with the only non-stop service to Denver and Chicago as well as international service from Las Vegas with non-stop flights to both Cancun and Cabos San Lucas, Mexico. To celebrate these new routes, Frontier is offering special introductory fares as low as $39.

Frontier's Fantastic Florida Flight Increases

The ultra-low-cost-carrier from the US, Frontier Airlines will be launching more flights this winter from Florida, to various ports in the US. 

The airline will be starting two new routes from Fort Lauderdale on 14th December this year. Both new routes will operate four times a week and they are Trenton and Islip. These new services are scheduled to be flown by one of the airlines Airbus A321 aircraft.

Orlando is going to be getting a flight to 'the big apple' with effect from the 13th December, when Frontier start a daily Airbus A320 rotation to La Guardia airport.

Starting on 14th December will be a route between Sarasota and Cleveland that will operate twice a week utilising an A321.

West Palm Beach is getting four new routes, Cleveland and St Louis will start on 15th November and both will fly three times a week. Columbus, Ohio will start a day later and will fly twice a week and a day after that service start, a flight to Pittsburg will begin, which will also fly twice a week. Services will all be on Airbus A319 aircraft with the exception of Cleveland which is scheduled to use an A321.

More new flights from Frontier Airlines.

The US low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines is expanding its route network yet again, the airline recently announced a number of new services from  Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina set to start in November this year and operated by one of the carriers Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline is introducing three international routes and two domestic services. 

The Mexican holiday playground of Cancun is the first of the three new services from Raleigh and will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The current schedule for the new flights will see a departure time of 0600 to land in Cancun at 0926 local time. The return is planned to return at 1021 from the sunny report, landing in North Carolina at 1328.

Montego Bay will start on 17th November this winter and is currently scheduled to operate twice each week, flying on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Provisional timings for this new service indicate it will leave Raleigh at 0600 and arrive Montego Bay at 0905.  The return sector departs some fifty-five minutes later at 1000 with an arrival time at Raleigh of 1310. 

Strange odour forces Frontier flight to divert

A mystery odour on Frontier Airlines flight 1674 to Philadelphia yesterday caused the crew to divert to Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina because the smell was making passengers sick.

The flight from Orlando had 230 passengers and 7 crew members aboard when the mysterious odour began to take effect on some of the passengers and cabin crew, making them nauseous. The crew decided to divert the aircraft to Raleigh-Durham. 

According to a spokesperson for  Frontier Airlines, eight people complained of feeling sick from the smell, three of them were taken to a local hospital to be checked out. The spokesperson advised that "Safety and security of our crew and guests is our number one priority," which is why the crew diverted the flight. It has been reported that a member of the cabin crew was one of those receiving treatment, although this has not yet been confirmed by the airline.

The fire service at Raleigh-Durham met the Airbus A321 aircraft and did an inspection both inside and out, but no cause for the strange and mysterious odour could be found. An investigation is ongoing. 

Frontier adds flights at Ontario International Airport

Continuing an unprecedented surge in growth at Ontario International Airport (ONT), Frontier Airlines announced this week it is adding daily, non-stop service to Orlando International Airport (MCO) this summer.

Frontier's move comes just a few months after it began service at ONT and is another powerful indication that Southern California's newest aviation gateway has become an attractive option for the region's air ttravellers The new flight will be the only nonstop to Florida from any airport in the L.A. area other than Los Angeles International Airport.

More new routes for Frontier Airlines

The airline with the funky animal tails, Frontier Airlines has added another nonstop flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, this time the airline is heading over to San Diego.

The airline announced this week it will start the new San Diego flight on 15th August,  "This is an important West Coast connection for our region with many businesses, leisure and military ties," the airport boss Michael Landguth said "We're excited that once again Frontier Airlines continues to invest in Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the Triangle community."

The airline is also introducing other services from San Diego this August, including to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. These were just part of a raft of new routes announced by the low-cost airline, other services they plan to start are Las Vegas to  Spokane, Norfolk and Calgary.  

Orlando to Ontario and Orlando to Pittsburgh are part of 14 new routes the airline aims to start in August. Austin gets two new routes, one to Orange County and another heading to Louisville, San Antonio also has two new routes - Salt Lake City and Orange County.