Even as Frontier Airlines executives say they see the budget carrier’s finances improving, the airline is making another network change as the winter months approach.
The Denver-based low-cost airline announced about a dozen new routes Tuesday, each set to launch in mid-December.
As part of the changes, Frontier will introduce several new flights between New England and Florida. It will also double down on its rapid growth in cities like Chicago, Houston, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
And it will begin new service to one of Colorado’s most popular ski areas: Just before the holiday season, the carrier will launch three new routes from major US cities to Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) near Vail.
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In total, Frontier introduced 22 new routes between Dec. 17 and Dec. 20. Among those routes, the carrier had previously flown about half during the past decade. Some are completely new to the airline.
The biggest winner of all? A connection between Chicago International Airport (ORD) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), each of which receives four pins on Frontier’s route map.
The new service adds to Frontier’s rapid growth at both airports. This year, the total number of airline seats departing from O’Hare will increase by 125% compared to 2023, according to data from airline analytics company Cirium. Meanwhile, Frontier will operate more than 4,300 flights from LAX this year after not using the airport in 2023.
Another winner of Frontier’s latest update: California’s Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), which returns to the carrier’s route map for the first time since 2021 with flights to both Denver and San Francisco.
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22 Frontier routes have been added
Here’s a complete list of Frontier’s new (or relaunched) routes:
| The route | Present it | Usually | The supply is maintained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Miami International Airport (MIA) | December 17 | Four weekly trips | 2023 |
| From BOS to Tampa International Airport (TPA) | December 17 | Every day | 2020-21 |
| Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) | December 20 | Four weekly trips | 2022 |
| BTV-TPA | December 20 | Three weekly trips | New |
| Cleveland Hopkins Airport (CLE) to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) | December 21 | Every week | 2020 |
| Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) to PBI | December 21 | Every week | New |
| Denver International Airport (DEN) to PSP | December 12 | Three weekly trips | 2021, and always before this pandemic |
| DEN-EGE | December 19 | Twice a week | New |
| Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to EGE | December 16 | Twice a week | New |
| San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to EGE | December 21 | Every week | New |
| Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to LAX | December 17 | Every day | New |
| IAH-MIA | December 17 | Three weekly trips | New |
| LAX to Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon | December 17 | Every day | New |
| LAX to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | December 17 | Every day | New |
| LAX to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | December 17 | Every day | New |
| ORD to Fort Myers’ Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) | December 17 | Four weekly trips | It is finally scheduled for service in 2021 |
| ORD-TPA | December 17 | Every day | It is finally scheduled for service in 2021 |
| ORD-PBI | December 18 | Three weekly trips | 2017 |
| ORD to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) | December 18 | Three weekly trips | 2020-21 |
| PSP-SFO | December 12 | Three weekly trips | New |
| Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Maine to TPA | December 18 | Three weekly trips | 2022 |
| Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to TPA | December 17 | Every day | 2015 |
Frontier’s latest network shake-up
Frontier kicked off 2024 by announcing 54 new routes in January, and it hasn’t stopped since. The carrier has announced one major network overhaul after another as part of an effort to improve profitability; the airline aimed to escape the increasing competition on domestic routes.
Related: Frontier cuts midweek flight and delays new jets but insists things are looking up
After consecutive quarters of financial underperformance, CEO Barry Biffle recently noted that the carrier is starting to see some promising results – which coincides with many US carriers adjusting their schedules to better meet customer needs.
“We’re seeing, over the last six weeks, a very positive development where we expected,” Biffle told Wall Street analysts at the Sept. 11 Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference.
So far in 2024, Frontier has announced 114 new routes since the beginning of August – and the movement has continued since then.
The airline did not specify what, if any, route cuts might accompany this latest phase of changes Frontier is making. The carrier has tended to cut many routes so far this year as part of its larger network.
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