Frontier aims for flights to Costa Rica The airline seeks permission to operate scheduled and charter trips from the U.S. to Costa Rica ``and beyond.''

Frontier Airlines has applied for federal authority to fly to Costa Rica.

The Denver-based carrier has asked for an exemption from the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow it to fly between points in the United States and various points in Costa Rica "and beyond."

Frontier asked for permission to operate scheduled and charter flights, and said it would use its 132-seat Airbus A319 airplanes. No airline currently flies nonstop between Denver International Airport and Costa Rica.

Frontier chief executive Jeff Potter has expressed interest in flying to Costa Rica, where the primary airport is San Jose International, as well as international destinations such as Jamaica.

"Costa Rica is a popular destination, and we've had great success in Mexico, so this would kind of just be the next logical step here," Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said.

Frontier said its entry into the U.S.-Costa Rica market would expand options for travelers and stimulate more leisure travel.

Frontier earlier this year applied for blanket authority to fly to any country that has an open-skies agreement with the United States, including Costa Rica.

Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@ denverpost.com.

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