Feb. 11--GREENSBORO -- Piedmont Triad International Airport supporters are Rocky Mountain high about their new service unveiled Monday.
Airport officials and Frontier Airlines announced that the carrier will begin direct service to Denver International Airport on May 1. The flights to and from Frontier's main hub will give PTIA its farthest direct service in the western United States. PTIA currently provides direct service to 16 airports, mainly in the Northeast, South and Midwest. The airport's westernmost direct service now is to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
"Frontier's new Denver service gives Piedmont Triad travelers a new low-cost gateway to the West Coast," said PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker.
When Frontier inaugurates its flights this spring, it will mark the first time that PTIA has direct service to Denver. Frontier will carry passengers on a 138-seat Airbus 319 aircraft on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The daily flight will depart Denver at 11:25 a.m. and arrive at PTIA at 4:46 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The returning flight will depart PTIA at 5:25 p.m. and arrive in Denver at 7:05 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Frontier's intention to provide direct flights to Denver follows its decision last year to begin serving PTIA for the first time. In mid-November, Frontier became the first new carrier at PTIA in five years when it began service to and from Orlando International Airport.
PTIA officials hope to continue building on their relationship with Frontier to encourage the carrier to further expand service, Baker told The High Point Enterprise.
"Our first job is to help make this successful," he said. "Denver is an important route because it connects to their hubs."
"Now customers can travel to Denver and easily connect to 16 other destinations," said Daniel Shurz, a senior vice president with Frontier.
PTIA previously only had direct service to the West Coast for a short period. In 2007, Skybus Airlines made PTIA a hub operation that included direct flights to Los Angeles. But the Skybus service ended abruptly on April 4, 2008, when the Ohio-based carrier ceased all operations, without prior notice, and filed for bankruptcy.
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Frontier Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings Inc. In its 19th year of
operations, Frontier offers service to more than 80 destinations in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica
and the Dominican Republic. Its main hub is Denver International Airport.
Frontier Airlines this afternoon announced new nonstop seasonal service between its
Denver hub and Piedmont Triad International Airport, with three weekly nonstop flights beginning on
May 1.
This will be the only nonstop service between these cities and is the farthest west direct service for PTIA. To mark the new service, Frontier is offering fares as low as $99 each way available for purchase through Feb. 16 only at FlyFrontier.com.
"We are excited to offer travelers in the Triad region the only nonstop service from Greensboro to
Denver," said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president, commercial. "Now customers can travel to Denver and
easily connect to 16 other destinations and they'll find the best deals and most perks when they book their travel at FlyFrontier.com."
"Frontier's new Denver service gives Piedmont Triad travelers a new low-cost gateway to the West
Coast," said Kevin Baker, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority executive director. "It's the best of all worlds --
low fares on large comfortable planes from PTI to Denver and from Denver to points all over the West
Coast. We couldn't be happier."
The Denver to PTIA flight will depart at 11:25 a.m. and arrive at 4:46 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The PTIA to Denver service will depart at 5:25 p.m. and arrive at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Frontier began serving PTIA for the first time in November with flights to and from Orlando International Airport.
Copyright 2013 - The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
