Frontier Airlines to double in size over next five years
Frontier Airlines plans to nearly double in size with new Airbus A320 family deliveries in the coming years, beginning with a 25 route expansion in 2020.
The Denver-based ultra-low-cost carrier will grow capacity by roughly 15% year-over-year in 2020 as it takes delivery of around 15 new A320neo family jets, Frontier senior manager of network planning Jonathon Nield told TPG at an event on the route expansion at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) Dec. 18. That double-digit growth means more low fares — albeit with many added fees — in more markets across the U.S.
Of the 25 new routes unveiled, three are from Baltimore — the primary low-fare, as well as busiest airport in the Washington area — to Miami (MIA), San Juan (SJU), and San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL). The expansion includes a new base in Miami as well as four new international destinations: Guatemala City (GUA), Santiago (STI) and Santo Domingo (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic, and San Salvador.
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"We have a lot of exciting things going on at Frontier Airlines... we have plans to nearly double the size of the airline," said Nield, citing Frontier's large orderbook over the next five years.
At the end of November, Frontier had firm orders for 100 A320neos and 67 A321neos, including 18 A321XLRs, according to Airbus' Orders and Deliveries data. It operated 96 Airbus jets.
Frontier's growth will occur across the U.S., as well as the Caribbean and Latin America, as it continues to search out lucrative new markets. The airline, while growing rapidly, is also known for quickly exiting unprofitable routes at more than twice the the rate of other airlines.
Related: Frontier Airlines grows in Miami, Newark with 25 new routes
For example, the airline landed at Washington Dulles (IAD) with an 18-route expansion in 2014. However, Frontier only flew all of those routes through 2015 before cuts reduced its presence at Dulles to just two routes — Austin (AUS) and Orlando (MCO) — today, according to Cirium schedules.
"For our segment of the population, we tend to find Baltimore performs better," Nield told TPG when asked about Frontier's growth plans at Baltimore and Dulles, both of which serve the Washington area.
Frontier also serves Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) with three daily flights from its Denver (DEN) base, Cirium shows. However, the lack of available slots and market-specific restrictions on its three flights mean no network changes are likely at National in the near term.
Nield is mum on where else Frontier may go — and exit — in 2020, beyond outlining the airline's high-level system capacity growth. Both domestic and international markets are possibilities, he said.
Related: Frontier Airlines Expands to Newark With 15 New Routes
Frontier is not the only value carrier with ambitious plans. Budget competitors Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines also anticipate double-digit growth in 2020, while discount giant Southwest Airlines expects a significant capacity bump once the Boeing 737 MAX returns to service, currently forecast for April.
This year, Frontier is on track to grow capacity by 14.8% year-over-year, Cirium schedules show. The cities that saw the most growth were Denver, Orlando, Las Vegas (LAS), Philadelphia (PHL) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL).
The story has been updated with Frontier's 15% growth rate in 2020.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.