Frontier Applies for Rights for Rockford – Puerto Vallarta Service

US carrier Frontier Airlines has made an official application to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch flights between Chicago Rockford International Airport and Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as it further expands its flying for travel specialist Apple Vacations. The application follows just a fortnight after details of the proposed Mexican link were revealed by the Greater Rockford Airport Authority.

Frontier Airlines already holds exemption authority for various US – Mexican links are already flown for Apple Vacations and says unused US airline designations are available on the routing. “The proposed service will benefit consumers by enabling Frontier to enhance competitive service offerings to Mexico, by expanding Mexico service for Rockford and its surrounding regions, and by bringing scheduled Puerto Vallarta service to Rockford,” it says in its admission.

According to the Greater Rockford Airport Authority, Apple Vacations will be introducing a seasonal weekly link on the route every Monday between January 27, 2014 and April 14, 2014 providing holiday options to Puerto Vallarta and its popular attractions of El Pitillal, The Marieta Islands, Las Ánimas Beach, and Los Arcos National Marine Park. In addition the tour operator is adding a second weekly flight to Punta Cana, a route it says has drawn solid bookings and has consistently operated at or near capacity.

Watch our video interview from Routes Americas on how Chicago Rockford International Airport utilises Routes event attendance and the online Routesonline platform to support its network development strategy.

“Our relationship with Apple Vacations continues to grow and the addition of Puerto Vallarta gives us a Pacific Ocean destination. Expanded international destinations and the additional weekly flight to Punta Cana demonstrate the region enjoys the hassle-free experience at Chicago Rockford International,” said Mike Dunn, Executive Director at the airport. “Every new service added provides further evidence of RFD’s popularity and underscores the necessity of a terminal expansion to meet the needs of our growing passenger base.”

Frontier Airlines will also offer flights for Apple Vacations to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Punta Cana from Lansing's Capital Region International Airport and reservations on these services were opened at the end of last month and will see a 138-seat Airbus A319 fly between the markets between January 24, 2014 and April 21, 2014. Frontier will operate two flights per week to Cancun and weekly services to Puerto Vallarta and Punta Cana.

"We're thrilled to welcome Apple Vacations back to Lansing," said Robert F. Selig, executive director of the Capital Region International Airport Authority. "Apple has been a great partner, providing award-winning service to travellers across mid-Michigan flying nonstop from Lansing. We're excited to offer an extended schedule of services to these hot destinations in 2014 and look forward to working with Apple to attract more leisure travellers to fly for fun this winter."

In the scheduled market, Frontier Airlines has also confirmed it will resume seasonal non-stop services in several markets as part of its new ‘fall schedule’ after opening up reservations for flights through to January 5, 2014. These will include flights from its Denver hub to Palm Springs, California, Cozumel, Mexico, and San Jose, Costa Rica; from Bloomington, Ill. to Orlando, Florida; from Indianapolis, Ind. to Cancun, Mexico; from Kansas City, Mo. to Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; from Madison, Wis. to Orlando, Florida; from Milwaukee, Wis. to Cancun, Mexico; from Omaha, Neb. to Orlando, Florida and from Salt Lake City, Utah to Cancun, Mexico. The carrier will also extend the seasons for service from Denver to: Eugene, OR; Greensboro, NC; and Knoxville, TN.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…