Frontier Announces Knoxville – Orlando Service

Posted 09/01/2012

Frontier Airlines is to launch a new direct service between Knoxville, Tenn. and Orlando, Fla. expanding its network map from the two locations to two and seven destinations, respectively.  The carrier will offer a three times weekly service using a 138-seat Airbus A319 from March 15, 2012, a route currently served by AirTran Airways and Allegiant Air. 

An estimated 173,000 O&D passengers travelled between Knoxville and Orlando in the past year, up 13.8 per cent over the previous 12 month period.  However, AirTran Airways recently revealed in November last year that it will close its twice weekly service from June 1, 2012 as part of its network restructuring with Southwest Airlines.

“We’re very pleased to bring Frontier’s low-fare, high-value service to this route,” said Robert Westgate, Senior Director of Planning and Scheduling, Frontier Airlines.  “While other airlines are abandoning this route, we’re confident that our better and different service will appeal to both leisure and business travelers.”

Meanwhile, the carrier has confirmed it will discontinue Frontier Express service between Milwaukee and Flint, Mich. with effect from March 8, 2012.  The airline currently offers twice-daily weekday only flights on the route using 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 equipment.

“Unfortunately, continuing high fuel prices have made it unprofitable to operate small regional jets on this route,” explained Daniel Shurz, Vice President of Strategy and Planning, Frontier Airlines.  “Additionally, the schedule reductions we recently made in Milwaukee have led to reduced connections on our Flint flying, making it even more unprofitable.”

An estimated 44,000 O&D passengers have travelled on the route in the past year, around 25 per cent of the total on Frontier Airlines’ flights.  Midwest Airlines also provides flights on this route.

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