Frontier Airlines is adding routes — and potentially Wi-Fi. The Denver-based, low-cost carrier on Thursday announced a four-route expansion covering six U.S. cities.
This includes new service to Orlando from the New York City area, as well as a flight that’ll likely catch the attention of one of the largest U.S. carriers.
Meanwhile, Frontier has confirmed it’s eyeing inflight Wi-Fi for its planes — a feature that just a couple of years ago would have been unthinkable for the historically no-frills carrier.
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Frontier’s 4-route expansion
Let’s get to the new routes first. Actually, it’s three all-new routes and one returning one, to be specific.
The budget carrier is bolstering its service to warm-weather destinations during the winter months.
The below flights will launch between early January and mid-February, so they’ll be taking off quite soon.
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Orlando International Airport (MCO): Launches Jan. 21 and operates three times per week
- MCO to Pensacola International Airport (PNS): Launches Feb. 13 and offers twice-weekly service
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Tucson International Airport (TUS): Launches Jan. 22 and runs twice per week
Plus, Frontier will bring back service between Miami International Airport (MIA) and O’Hare International Airport (ORD), a route it last served in 2022, according to Cirium schedule data.
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Those flights will start Feb. 13 and will operate three times weekly. American Airlines will likely take notice of this MIA-to-ORD route, since it’s a flight between two of its hubs. (O’Hare is, of course, also the home base of United Airlines.)
Inflight Wi-Fi on horizon
Frontier also made headlines in recent weeks by signaling its intention to add inflight Wi-Fi to its planes.
For years, the airline has remained internet-free, even as top domestic competitor Spirit Airlines added on-board connectivity.
But earlier this month, CEO Barry Biffle replied to a social media comment about inflight Wi-Fi by saying: “it’s coming.”
A spokesperson for Frontier elaborated further, telling TPG the airline hopes to select a Wi-Fi partner within the next year.
“Competition among potential vendors is heading up and they are eager to work with us,” the carrier said.
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Inflight Wi-Fi is an increasingly important amenity for airlines. Each of the six largest U.S. airlines has announced plans to make Wi-Fi free (or has made it free already).
Until now, Frontier has held off on Wi-Fi, which is a pricey amenity for airlines to add — and one that hasn’t historically fit its low-cost, no-frills approach.
But the airline is already breaking that mold in other ways, with plans to add first-class seating in the near future.
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