Frontier Airlines is adding 42 new routes to its network. The “ultra-low-cost” carriers is homing in on routes it considers “historically overpriced and underserved” in competition with the Big Three and Southwest.
Frontier is not alone in this strategy; over recent weeks we’ve reported on Spirit’s route extensions as well. Historically, low fares go with competition rather than short distances, and the growth of the ULCCs has led Delta and more recently United and American to add “basic economy” bare-bones fares to their repertoire.
The new routes link Orlando and Philadelphia to Austin, Orlando and Chicago to Charlotte, Philadelphia, Houston, LA and SF to Cincinnati and Philadelpia, LA, SF and Portland to Cleveland, among others (full list at USA Today). Most of the routes will fly alternate days (Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday or Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday.)
The routes will be phased in between April and June as Frontier takes delivery on new planes. Eighteen are on order. Take a quick look and see if one of the routes fits your needs, because there are $39 one-way introductory specials on some of them.
