Frontier plans 7 new routes, including second-ever nonstop from New York's JFK
Frontier Airlines is showing no signs of letting up on the network shake-up that's helped define the carrier in 2024.
Just days removed from launching its first-ever service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), the Denver-based ultra-low-cost carrier is planning a second JFK route that’s set to take off later this summer.
The new route from New York’s largest airport to Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is one of seven new routes the budget carrier announced last week.
It’s also the latest in a prolonged series of network adjustments Frontier has made since the start of 2024.
Continuing with the playbook that's been guiding its 2024 shake-up, Frontier is again bolstering service at some of the largest hubs of its legacy airline competitors.
Among the seven new routes are two new daily nonstops between Delta Air Lines’ home base of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and a separate Delta hub — including one transcontinental flight.
It’s also continuing a rapid 2024 expansion at American Airlines’ Sun Belt hubs of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (CLT).
The changes all take effect in mid-August, just as the summer air travel peak should be starting to cool off a bit.
Frontier's 7 new routes
Here’s the full rundown of Frontier’s new routes announced last week:
| Route | Launches | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
ATL to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) | Aug. 13 | Daily |
ATL to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Aug. 13 | Daily |
BOS-CLT | Aug. 13 | Daily |
BOS-DFW | Aug. 14 | Four weekly round trips |
JFK-LAS | Aug. 13 | Daily |
LAX to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) | Aug. 13 | Daily |
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to SMF | Aug. 13 | Daily |
Six of these seven routes will mark first-ever service for Frontier. The carrier did previously operate a limited number of flights between Atlanta and LAX in 2021, and also prior to the pandemic, as confirmed in data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
However, that past service pales in comparison with the daily nonstops Frontier now plans to operate on the transcontinental route.
Loyalty basics: Best ways to earn airline miles
Meanwhile, the new Las Vegas route is the carrier’s second-ever flight from JFK. The airline made its JFK debut earlier this month with a new nonstop to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Latest twist in a larger strategy shake-up
It’s been an active 2024 at Frontier, which has made both network adjustments and larger strategy shifts amid lagging financial performance of late.
As TPG has reported, the route map shake-up has been part of a well-documented effort to focus a little less heavily on domestic leisure destinations that are popular, but highly competitive with service from so many airlines.
But the carrier has also made numerous other changes, from launching a European business class-style concept called “Upfront Plus” — which entails blocking the middle seat in the first couple rows. More notably, the company recently eliminated change fees for most ticket types and overhauled how it displays fares and add-on charges, offering four choices on a far more concrete menu of pricing options.
Map watching: The award for 'sexiest new route' of the year goes to ...
“During COVID, we spent a lot of time focusing on ancillary [fees],” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said last month, speaking at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation & Industrials Conference.
“If you look, we got more expensive than the legacies [American, Delta and United Airlines], on many of the itineraries,” Biffle explained. “Which is just absurd.”
Bottom line
Frontier may not be done with changes as the airline hopes to boost its profitability.
“There’s more to come,” Biffle teased late last month.
That’s certainly true with respect to the airline’s route map, which continues to adapt as the airline searches for routes that, it hopes, will allow it to charge higher fares, boosting its bottom line.
It was not immediately clear whether the airline is planning any route eliminations in conjunction with these latest network changes.
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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
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- 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.