Give Frontier some props ...

Airline will use them on four regional routes

Chris Walsh, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 3, 2007 at midnight

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Frontier Airlines announced its first four turboprop destinations today, detailing plans to fly its new 74-seat planes to cities in Montana, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota.

The Denver-based carrier will start daily nonstop flights on Q400 turboprops between Denver and Sioux City, Iowa; Rapid City, S.D.; and Wichita, Kan. - all new markets for Frontier.

It also will fly the Q400s from Denver to Billings, Mont., replacing the airline's existing flights on regional jets.

The new service, which starts in early October, represents 10 daily round-trip flights and will be operated by Frontier's subsidiary, Lynx Aviation.

The flights still will carry the Frontier name and can be booked on the company's Web site.

"Each one of these cities really represents an opportunity for us and can draw passengers from nearby areas," Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said. "And the competitive landscape is such that these markets will respond well to low-fare service."

Frontier will face direct competition from United Airlines on the flights between Denver and Billings, Wichita and Rapid City. No airline flies nonstop between Denver and Sioux City.

Frontier's turboprop operation eventually will serve up to 10 destinations but has not yet received a federal waiver to announce the other destinations.

Observers say the carrier will likely start in-state service to places such as Aspen, Steamboat Springs and Colorado Springs. The Q400 turboprop planes are ideal for flying into mountain towns, where landing and taking off can be difficult.

More than 60 cities in Colorado and nearby states lobbied for Lynx service, and most offered some sort of financial incentive. Wichita, for example, waived landing fees and terminal charges for a year and will help market the new flights.

The package is worth an estimated $600,000, according to Valerie Wise, air-service and business-development manager for Wichita Mid-Continent Airport.

"This has been our top priority for a while," Wise said.

"It is huge, not only for Wichita but for all of Kansas. We have had high fares to the West, and we're underserved in terms of service. This will help us draw passengers from all over the state."

Wise said the three daily flights could help boost the airport's traffic by 15 percent.

Hodas said incentives played a role in the decision-making process, though they weren't the top priority.

"If we don't see the possibility to build a significant market base, we won't go. Incentives can help make you successful, but more importantly, they represent a commitment from the community to make it work," he said.

Frontier's first four turboprop destinations from Denver

• Billings, Mont. Three daily flights starting Oct. 1

• Wichita, Kan.

Three daily flights starting Oct. 1.

• Sioux City, Iowa

Two daily flights starting Oct. 5.

• Rapid City, S.D.

Two daily flights starting Oct. 5.

Frontier Airlines

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