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Frontier Airlines adds 20 routes in big shakeup covering 14 cities

Sean CudahySenior Aviation Reporter
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.

August 26, 2025 • 5 min read

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Frontier Airlines is making a push to be top-of-mind for travelers in South Texas, South Florida and Michigan.

The budget airline on Tuesday announced a big network shakeup, unveiling 20 new or returning routes covering 14 cities, from the U.S. to Mexico and Central America.

It’s the latest in a series of shakeups we’ve seen from Frontier over the past two years, amid financial pressures. Increasingly, the carrier has aimed to transport customers flying between major cities to visit friends and relatives or for work — not just vacationers headed to places like Orlando and Orlando.

The big winner in Tuesday’s announcement: Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), which is getting eight new Frontier routes to the likes of New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, Guatemala and Honduras, among others.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) will see a half-dozen new Frontier flights, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) will get five additional routes.

Frontier's 20 new routes

Here’s the full rundown:

Route	Launch date	Frequency
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Cancun International Airport (CUN)	Nov. 22	Weekly
BWI-FLL	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
BWI-IAH	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
BWI to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)	Feb. 12, 2026	Twice weekly
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to DTW	Nov. 23	Twice weekly
CLT-FLL	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to FLL	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
DFW-MSY	Feb. 13, 2026	Twice weekly
DTW-CUN	Nov. 22	Weekly
DTW-FLL	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
DTW-IAH	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
DTW to Miami International Airport (MIA)	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
DTW-MSY	Feb. 12, 2026	Twice weekly
FLL to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD)	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
IAH-FLL	Nov. 22	Weekly
IAH to La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City	Dec. 18	Three times weekly
IAH-MSY	Feb. 13, 2026	Twice weekly
IAH to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
IAH to El Salvador International Airport (SAL)	Dec. 19	Three times weekly
IAH to Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras	Dec. 20	Weekly

The carrier did not announce any route cuts or pullbacks as part of Tuesday's announcement, but such changes are common when there's a big network shakeup at an airline.

Not all of these routes are entirely new. In fact, Frontier offered CUN service from BWI and DTW as recently as 2024, but cut those flights amid stiff demand to the popular Mexico beach destination.

The carrier last operated its DTW-MIA and IAH-PHL services in 2022.

frontier plane — A Frontier Airlines aircraft at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

On the other hand, Frontier’s deep ties to Houston are a much more recent development. Even prior to Tuesday’s announcement, the ultra-low-cost carrier was set to offer 158% more departures out of IAH than it did just two years ago. IAH also remains a major hub for United Airlines.

Loyalty changes in the works

Frontier has changed more than its route map in recent years as it has proved less profitable than the larger network airlines (as have other budget airline competitors).

A year ago, the carrier revamped its longstanding fare bundles and introduced an UpFront Plus seating product it has compared to European-style business-class, featuring a blocked middle seat.

Frontier Airlines' "UpFront Plus" product featuring a blocked middle seat. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

It also made sweeping changes to its Frontier Miles loyalty program, including introducing a companion pass for travelers who earn Platinum-level status.

Last week, Frontier said it would offer automatic Gold status for $69 to any loyalty members of Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines or JetBlue. Gold status on Frontier will soon come with complimentary, space-available upgrades to its soon-to-be-introduced first-class seats, set to debut by the end of the year.

Related reading:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Frontier Airlines is making a push to be top-of-mind for travelers in South Texas, South Florida and Michigan.

The budget airline on Tuesday announced a big network shakeup, unveiling 20 new or returning routes covering 14 cities, from the U.S. to Mexico and Central America.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) will see a half-dozen new Frontier flights, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) will get five additional routes.

Frontier's 20 new routes

Here’s the full rundown:

Route	Launch date	Frequency
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Cancun International Airport (CUN)	Nov. 22	Weekly
BWI-FLL	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
BWI-IAH	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
BWI to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)	Feb. 12, 2026	Twice weekly
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to DTW	Nov. 23	Twice weekly
CLT-FLL	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to FLL	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
DFW-MSY	Feb. 13, 2026	Twice weekly
DTW-CUN	Nov. 22	Weekly
DTW-FLL	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
DTW-IAH	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
DTW to Miami International Airport (MIA)	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
DTW-MSY	Feb. 12, 2026	Twice weekly
FLL to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD)	Nov. 20	Three times weekly
IAH-FLL	Nov. 22	Weekly
IAH to La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City	Dec. 18	Three times weekly
IAH-MSY	Feb. 13, 2026	Twice weekly
IAH to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)	Nov. 21	Three times weekly
IAH to El Salvador International Airport (SAL)	Dec. 19	Three times weekly
IAH to Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras	Dec. 20	Weekly

The carrier did not announce any route cuts or pullbacks as part of Tuesday's announcement, but such changes are common when there's a big network shakeup at an airline.

Not all of these routes are entirely new. In fact, Frontier offered CUN service from BWI and DTW as recently as 2024, but cut those flights amid stiff demand to the popular Mexico beach destination.

The carrier last operated its DTW-MIA and IAH-PHL services in 2022.

Loyalty changes in the works

Frontier has changed more than its route map in recent years as it has proved less profitable than the larger network airlines (as have other budget airline competitors).

A year ago, the carrier revamped its longstanding fare bundles and introduced an UpFront Plus seating product it has compared to European-style business-class, featuring a blocked middle seat.

It also made sweeping changes to its Frontier Miles loyalty program, including introducing a companion pass for travelers who earn Platinum-level status.

Related reading:

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Frontier's 20 new routes

Loyalty changes in the works

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Pros + cons

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Frontier's 20 new routes

Loyalty changes in the works

Comments

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

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Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

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American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

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Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR