SimAirline.net - Viewpoint (Entries tagged as frontier)

Frontier...by a Tail

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:59:00 -0700

Republic Airways announced this week that Frontier Airlines will be the surviving brand of the Frontier-Midwest merger. Republic has launched a new website to update the public about merger news. Operations are expected to be integrated by November and brands by October 2011.

"While the research showed that customers preferred the Frontier brand, they also expressed a strong loyalty to both brands based on affordability, convenience, destinations and delivery of a differentiated experience. As we work to integrate these two brands into a unified Frontier Airlines, you can expect to see a lot of influence from the Midwest brand," said Republic Airways Chairman, CEO, and President Bryan Bedford. So far, this includes retaining Midwest's signature chocolate chip cookies and adding a badger to Frontier's fleet to represent Wisconsin.

Frontier Emerges from Bankruptcy

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:41:00 -0700

Frontier Airlines emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy today upon completion of its acquisition by Republic Airways Holdings. While in bankruptcy, Frontier reported profits every month in 2009.

"This is the end of a long, difficult journey and the beginning of a new, exciting one," said Frontier President and CEO Sean Menke. "My thanks go to our Frontier and Lynx employees whose hard work and sacrifice enabled us to successfully restructure our Company into an incredible success story....We are also looking forward to building on our relationships and working with both Republic and Midwest Airlines to build a strong, sustainable, competitive airline for years to come."

The Zoo Stays Open

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:46:14 -0700

In a surprise to nearly everyone, Southwest Airlines' bid for Frontier Airlines proved unsuccessful after Frontier and Southwest pilots could not resolve seniority issues before closing the bidding process and Southwest insisted on resolution. Republic Airways' new higher bid of $150 million, while still less than Southwest's $170 million offer, makes them the new owner and preserves, for the near term at least, the Frontier brand.

Southwest Joins Bidding for Frontier

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:35:00 -0700

After Republic Airways announced plans to purchase Frontier Airlines last month, Southwest Airlines has decided to join the fray, offering a higher bid of $113.6 million (Republic's was $108.8 million). Under the procedures set by Frontier's bankruptcy court, the bid is nonbinding, with a binding big due by 10 August.

Southwest, which resumed service in Denver just three years ago, already serves 34 destinations from the city. The current three-way fight is reminiscent of the 1980s when Continental, the original Frontier, United, and Western were all battling at the old Stapleton International Airport.

Southwest confirmed that if its bid is successful, Frontier's Airbus fleet would eventually be replaced by 737s and that Frontier employees would transition to Southwest. It was "too early to say" what the future of Frontier's regional subsidiary Lynx would be.

Southwest has released a Q & A on what the acquisition would mean for both airlines. This topic is being discussed in the Message Boards.

We are always committed to the virtual airlines we operate. Should the Frontier brand disappear, Frontier Virtual will continue to fly.

Frontier Sold to Republic

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:57:19 -0700

Frontier Airlines has announced that it will sell itself to Republic Airways Holdings for $108.75 million upon exiting from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Republic Airways Holdings owns three regional airlines, Chautauqua, Republic, and Shuttle America, the latter of which flew E-170s for Frontier until last year's bankruptcy. Today's investment is an expansion of Republic's bankruptcy claim in Frontier; Republic is also providing debt financing to bankrupt Midwest Airlines.

Under the announced plan, Frontier would exit bankruptcy this fall as a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic and continue to operate its regular operations and those of Lynx Aviation.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Frontier - Colorado's State Plane

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:58:12 -0700

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. proclaimed Frontier's second A320 (N202FR) as the official state plane of the state in a ceremony earlier today. The aircraft's tail features the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, the state animal. The aircraft, named "Colorado," includes the state name on the nose and the state flag and the governor's signature near the boarding door.

"On behalf of the people of Colorado, it is my honor to proclaim Frontier's newest aircraft the official plane of Colorado," said Governor Ritter. "Frontier is Colorado's hometown airline and provides our community with consistent high-quality service and low-cost airfare. I am incredibly proud to have this aircraft, featuring our state animal, representing us as it flies between Colorado and our nation's capital."

The aircraft is not yet available to fly at Frontier Virtual, but we hope to have it available very soon.

Endangered Species?

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:26:33 -0700

Frontier Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last night after its main credit card processor, First Data, announced it would increase its "holdback" of customer receipts, reducing Frontier's cash flow to an unsustainable rate. Frontier is continuing operations as usual but filed for bankruptcy in order to keep the existing contract in place, which was supposed to be replaced today. With numerous credit card processors' airline-derived finances in trouble after the Aloha, ATA, and Skybus shutdowns, First Data's move may have been a knee-jerk response to market concerns about Frontier's viability. Frontier however, stated as recently as Tuesday that their financial health was in good shape, and their traffic data backs this claim: just last week announced load factors 7.6 points higher than the previous year, with stronger yields as well.

Because there is no change to Frontier's operations, Frontier Virtual remains unaffected. As always, SimAirline.net is devoted to keeping Frontier Virtual open, regardless of the fate of the real airline.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Lynx Spreads Its Wings

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:12:01 -0800

After a few months of delays in starting operations, Frontier Airlines' regional subsidiary Lynx Aviation is expanding to new regional destinations as planned. Frontier announced new service on Lynx's Dash 8-400s from Denver to Aspen, Bozeman, Colorado Springs (where Lynx's maintenance base will be), Durango, Fargo, Grand Junction, Jackson Hole, and Missoula.

Lynx began operations in early December from Denver to Rapid City, Sioux City, and Wichita. Frontier has been restructuring its route network of late by reducing non-hub services to Mexico, closing the new Memphis operation, and refocusing its operations around Denver to better compete with Southwest's fast expanding operation there.