Frontier Airlines facts for kids
A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo
|
|
| Founded | February 8, 1994 |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | July 5, 1994 |
| AOC # | F3LA008Y |
| Operating bases |
|
| Frequent-flyer program | Frontier Miles |
| Fleet size | 163 |
| Destinations | 123 |
| Parent company | Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. via Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. (Indigo Partners) |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Key people | |
| Revenue |  US$3.6 billion (2023) |
| Operating income | ▼ US$−3 million (2023) |
| Net income | ▼ US$−11 million (2023) |
| Total assets |  US$871 million (2023) |
| Total equity | US$507 million (2023) |
| Employees | 7,235 (2023) |
Frontier Airlines, Inc. is a big American airline based in Denver, Colorado. It's known as an ultra low-cost airline, which means it offers very low basic fares but charges extra for things like choosing your seat or bringing luggage. Frontier flies to over 120 places in the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. It has more than 5,000 employees. The airline is a public company, and its main hubs are at Denver International Airport and Orlando International Airport, along with other cities.
Contents
History of Frontier Airlines
Starting in the 1990s
Frontier Airlines was started by Frederick W. "Rick" Brown, his wife Janice Brown, and Bob Schulman in 1994. Rick was a pilot, and Janice and Bob had worked for an older airline also called Frontier. They saw a need for more flights from Denver when another airline, Continental, reduced its services.
The new Frontier Airlines began flying on July 5, 1994. They used Boeing 737-200 planes and flew to four cities in North Dakota from Denver. Many of their first employees and leaders had worked for the original Frontier Airlines. By 1995, Frontier had grown its network to include cities in New Mexico, Montana, and other states. For its first nine years, Frontier used the slogan "The Spirit of the West."
In 1999, Frontier started buying and leasing Airbus planes, including the Airbus A318 and A319. They also added Boeing 737-300 planes. By September 1999, Frontier flew to many major cities across the U.S., like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, all from its main hub in Denver.
Growing in the 2000s
Frontier received its first Airbus plane, an A319, in 2001. With it, they introduced in-flight TV and a new look for their planes. In 2003, Frontier was the first airline to use the Airbus A318. By mid-2005, Frontier had replaced all its Boeing 737s and became an all-Airbus airline.
To stay competitive, Frontier changed its business structure in 2006. They created a parent company called Frontier Airlines Holdings. In 2007, Frontier also started a smaller airline called Lynx Aviation for shorter flights.
On January 24, 2007, the U.S. government recognized Frontier as a "major carrier." Frontier also signed a deal with Republic Airways for Republic to operate some of Frontier's smaller flights using Embraer 170 planes.
In April 2008, Frontier faced financial problems and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This allowed the company to keep operating while it reorganized its finances. Even with these challenges, Frontier reported a profit in November 2008.
In 2009, Republic Airways Holdings bought Frontier Airlines and Lynx Aviation. This meant Frontier became a part of Republic. Republic then started moving some of Frontier's jobs to Indianapolis. However, Frontier kept its main office in Denver for teams like training and marketing.
In 2010, Frontier merged its brand with Midwest Airlines, another airline owned by Republic. Frontier became the main brand.
Changes in the 2010s
.jpg)
After merging with Midwest Airlines, Frontier had many flights from Milwaukee. But in 2011 and 2012, Frontier greatly reduced its flights from Milwaukee and laid off many employees there.
In 2012, Republic Airways Holdings decided to sell Frontier. David Siegel became the new CEO of Frontier, and he moved to Denver to help manage the airline as it separated from Republic. Frontier also started to become an ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC).
Frontier began flying from Trenton–Mercer Airport in New Jersey in 2012 and Wilmington-New Castle Airport in Delaware in 2013. These airports had no commercial flights before Frontier arrived. Frontier promoted them as easier and cheaper options than bigger nearby airports.
In October 2013, a private investment firm called Indigo Partners bought Frontier Airlines. This sale helped Frontier continue its transformation into an ULCC. After the purchase, Frontier's headquarters stayed in Denver.
In 2014, Frontier fully committed to being an ULCC. This meant cutting some flights and jobs in Denver and moving them to other areas. In 2015, Frontier closed its call centers in Denver and Milwaukee, moving those jobs to another company. Frontier also stopped offering a toll-free phone number for customer service.
Frontier expanded its flights from Atlanta in 2015, making it a focus city. They also added many new routes from other airports across the country in 2016. In 2017, Frontier opened a new crew base in Las Vegas.
In 2015, David Siegel left his role as CEO. Barry Biffle, who was president, took over managing the airline's daily operations.
In 2015, a report ranked Frontier among the worst airlines in the U.S. for customer complaints and on-time performance. In December 2016, bad winter weather caused many delays and cancellations for Frontier flights, leading to criticism from the pilot's union.
Recent Years (2020s)
In 2020, Frontier faced lawsuits because it didn't refund tickets for customers who couldn't travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline also received money from the U.S. government to help with financial losses during that time.
On April 1, 2021, Frontier became a public company and its shares started trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Its stock symbol, ULCC, stands for "ultra low-cost carrier."
In early 2022, Frontier tried to buy Spirit Airlines, another ULCC. This deal would have created the fifth-largest airline in the U.S. However, Spirit's shareholders rejected Frontier's offer in July 2022.
In November 2022, Frontier announced a new crew base at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for early 2023. That same month, Frontier completely removed its customer service phone line, directing customers to online help instead.
In 2023, several lawsuits were filed against Frontier. Passengers claimed they were unfairly charged $100 fees for bags that should have been considered personal items. Videos on social media, especially TikTok, also criticized Frontier's baggage policy. Frontier admitted that its policies were not always applied correctly and that it paid agents a bonus for charging extra baggage fees.
In February 2024, another TikTok video went viral. A passenger showed that her personal item fit in other airlines' bag sizers but not in Frontier's, even though the listed size limits were the same. She suggested Frontier's sizers might be smaller to make people pay more.
On December 4, 2024, Robert Schroeter, a Senior Vice-President at Frontier, spoke to a Senate committee about airline fees. Senators from both parties criticized Frontier's system of paying agents commissions for baggage fees, noting that these commissions totaled over $26 million by 2023.
How Frontier is Run
Business Information
Here are some key facts about Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. over the years:
| Money Earned (US$m) |
Profit/Loss (US$m) |
Number of Employees |
Number of Passengers (millions) |
Planes Full (%) |
Number of Planes |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,317 | 9.3 | 83.6 | ||||
| 2011 | 1,662 | 10.6 | 87.1 | ||||
| 2012 | 1,433 | 17 | 10.3 | 88.8 | 55 | ||
| 2013 | 1,349 | 11 | 3,614 | 10.2 | 90.6 | 52 | |
| 2014 | 1,575 | 140 | 3,653 | 11.7 | 90.4 | 54 | |
| 2015 | 1,604 | 146 | 2,981 | 12.6 | 88.0 | 61 | |
| 2016 | 1,714 | 200 | 3,163 | 14.8 | 87.2 | 66 | |
| 2017 | 1,915 | 162 | 3,584 | 16.8 | 86.4 | 78 | |
| 2018 | 2,156 | 80 | 3,978 | 19.4 | 84.9 | 84 | |
| 2019 | 2,508 | 251 | 4,935 | 22.7 | 86.1 | 98 | |
| 2020 | 1,250 | −225 | 4,974 | 11.2 | 67.5 | 104 | |
| 2021 | 2,060 | −102 | 5,481 | 20.7 | 75.9 | 110 | |
| 2022 | 3,326 | −37 | 6,450 | 25.5 | 80.9 | 120 | |
| 2023 | 3,589 | −11 | 7,214 | 30.2 | 81.4 | 136 | |
Airline Look and Feel
From 1994 to 2001, Frontier's planes had green "Frontier" writing and pictures of wildlife on their tails. Each side of the Boeing 737s often had different animal pictures.
In 2001, a new design came out with big silver "FRONTIER" letters and the slogan "A whole different animal." The animal tails stayed, but now each plane had only one animal picture.
In 2013, Frontier updated its look again, keeping the animal tails but changing the name on the side to "FLYFRONTIER.COM" to promote its website.
On September 9, 2014, Frontier introduced another new design. It brought back green "FRONTIER" letters and a special "F" logo used by the original Frontier airline. Each plane also has the animal's name written near the front.
Frontier uses these animal characters in its advertising. Each animal has a name, like Jack the rabbit, Grizwald the bear, and Flip the dolphin. There are also Penguins Jim, Joe, Jay, and Gary, who sing in commercials.
Where Frontier Flies
Frontier Airlines flies to many places in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Here are the busiest airports for Frontier flights in 2024:
| Rank | Origin airport | Passengers | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, Colorado | 4,094,998 | 9.9% |
| 2 | Orlando, Florida | 2,896,984 | 17.9% |
| 3 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 1,966,306 | 12.4% |
| 4 | Atlanta, Georgia | 1,886,718 | 3.8% |
| 5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1,817,243 | 4.7% |
| 6 | Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas | 1,588,959 | 41.1% |
| 7 | Phoenix, Arizona | 1,427,720 | 11.5% |
| 8 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1,117,957 | 26.5% |
| 9 | Tampa, Florida | 1,046,444 | 3.2% |
| 10 | Cleveland, Ohio | 1,043,741 | 25.7% |
Frontier also has a special agreement with Volaris, an airline from Mexico. This allows them to sell tickets on each other's flights.
Frontier's Fleet (Planes)
Current Planes
.jpg)
As of June 2025, Frontier Airlines uses only Airbus A320 family planes. Here's what their fleet looks like:
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes/sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 6 | — | 180 | These planes will be retired in 2025. |
| Airbus A320neo | 82 | 12 | 186 | More of these planes will be delivered until 2026. |
| Airbus A321-200 | 21 | — | 230 | These planes will be retired by 2029. |
| Airbus A321neo | 54 | 154 | 240 | Many more of these planes will be delivered until 2029. |
| Total | 163 | 166 | ||
How the Fleet Grew
In 2011, Frontier ordered 60 A320neo and 20 A319neo planes. In 2014, they ordered 19 Airbus A321neos. Frontier received its first Airbus A320neo in October 2016, becoming the second U.S. airline to use this type.
On November 15, 2017, Frontier announced a huge order for 134 more Airbus A320neo family planes. This order included 100 A320neos and 34 A321neos. This helps Frontier have a very fuel-efficient and modern fleet, with planes that are, on average, only five years old.
Past Planes
.jpg)
Frontier Airlines has used these types of planes in the past:
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Replacement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A318-100 | 11 | 2003 | 2013 | Airbus A320 family | Frontier was the first airline to use this plane. |
| Airbus A319-100 | 53 | 2001 | 2021 | Airbus A320neo | |
| Boeing 737-200 | 12 | 1994 | 2006 | Airbus A320 family | |
| Boeing 737-300 | 19 | 1995 | 2005 | ||
| Bombardier CRJ200 | 6 | 2004 | 2006 | Bombardier CRJ700 | Flown by Mesa Airlines for Frontier. |
| Bombardier CRJ700 | 6 | 2004 | 2006 | De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 | Flown by Horizon Air for Frontier. |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 | 11 | 2007 | 2012 | None | Flown by Lynx Aviation for Frontier. |
| Embraer E170 | 10 | 2010 | 2013 | Airbus A320 family | Flown by Republic Airways for Frontier. |
| Embraer E190 | 13 | 2010 | 2013 | Flown by Republic Airways for Frontier. |
Frontier was the first airline to use the Airbus A318. They had 11 of these planes between 2003 and 2013.
What to Expect on a Frontier Flight
Services Offered
Since Frontier is an ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC), it charges extra for many services. This includes choosing your seat, bringing checked bags, changing or canceling flights, and buying food or drinks on the plane. Before becoming a ULCC, Frontier used to offer DirecTV on screens, but now there are no in-flight entertainment options.
Seating on Planes
Frontier's planes have only economy class seats, arranged with three seats on each side of the aisle. The seats on A320 planes have about 28 to 30 inches of space between rows. A321 planes have a bit more space, about 30 to 32 inches. The middle seats are slightly wider than the window and aisle seats. Most seats do not recline. However, some special "Stretch" seats, usually in exit rows, have extra legroom.
Frequent Flyer Program
Frontier Miles is Frontier's program for frequent flyers. It replaced the EarlyReturns program in 2018. Now, you earn miles based on how much money you spend on flights or with special credit cards. You can use these miles to pay for flights.
The program has four levels for frequent flyers: Elite Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. As you reach higher levels, you get more free benefits, like choosing your seat, bringing extra bags, or getting on the plane first.
Safety and Incidents
- On November 30, 2018, a Frontier Airlines Airbus A320 (Flight 260) had parts of its engine cover come off during takeoff. The crew thought something on the runway might have caused it. The plane landed safely, and no one was hurt.
- On October 5, 2024, a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 (Flight 1326) caught fire while landing in Las Vegas. The pilots declared an emergency, and the plane landed safely with all 197 people on board unharmed.
- On April 15, 2025, a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo (Flight 3506) from Orlando tried to land in San Juan but had a hard landing, damaging its nose landing gear. During the attempt to go around and try again, the left engine showed flames. The airport runways were closed for a short time. The plane landed safely on another runway, and all 228 passengers got off without injuries.
Images for kids
-
Frontier Express Embraer ERJ-145 operated by Chautauqua Airlines in 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Frontier Airlines para niños
- List of Colorado companies
- Air transportation in the United States
