Frontier Airlines to offer non-stop flights between Bellingham and Denver
Feb. 10--BELLINGHAM -- Local residents soon will have the opportunity to fly east out of the Bellingham International Airport, at least for the summer.
Frontier Airlines announced Thursday, Feb. 9, that it will begin offering nonstop flights from Bellingham to Frontier's hub in Denver. The daily flights will start Thursday, May 24, and are scheduled through Sunday, Sept. 16. This seasonal service is a way to test the local market to see if it's a viable route for the company.
"Right now, we are just planning seasonal service (in Bellingham). We constantly evaluate our routes and make decisions based on their performance," said Lindsey Carpenter, a senior manager for Frontier Airlines.
Frontier joins Allegiant Air and Alaska Airlines as major commercial airlines regularly flying out of Bellingham. It's the first airline to offer eastbound flights out of Bellingham since Delta Airlines discontinued flights to Salt Lake City in April 2008. Alaska and Allegiant offer flights along the West Coast and to Hawaii.
The Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners must approve the terms of the business agreement with Frontier at an upcoming commission meeting before the new operation may begin.
Frontier plans to use a 124-passenger, Airbus A319 aircraft. The flight will arrive in Bellingham at 10:10 a.m. and depart at 10:55 a.m. seven days a week.
The port has courted airlines for an east-west connection for several years.
"This new service will deliver our passengers to a large transportation hub, which will be a great benefit for business travelers," said port Executive Director Charlie Sheldon in the news release. "Although the announcement today (Feb. 9) is for a seasonal four-month service, we hope Frontier will offer ongoing flights out of Bellingham."
With this new service, along with nonstop seasonal flights between Bellingham and Portland, Ore., announced by Alaska Airlines last month, Bellingham is nearing capacity. Daniel Zenk, director of aviation for the port, said he doesn't expect new east-bound destinations until the terminal expansion project is completed in January 2014. The three airlines will combine to offer flights to 11 destinations this summer out of Bellingham.
About 80 percent of Frontier's traffic passes through Denver, with the rest going through Milwaukee or Kansas City, Mo. Carpenter said by flying into Denver, Frontier passengers from Bellingham can be connected to more than 70 destinations across the U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica. The airline is known for having pictures of different animals on the tail of its airplanes.
Frontier Airlines is considered a low-cost air carrier that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. Republic Airways Holdings outbid Southwest Airlines to acquire Frontier out of bankruptcy in 2009. Republic announced plans in November to either spin off or sell Frontier Airlines. According to a recent Bloomberg article, a restructuring of Frontier that included job cuts and cost reductions has returned the airline to profitability, allowing Republic to move ahead with separation plans.
Introductory fares begin at $90 each way for Denver-Bellingham service. The intro fares are available at FrontierAirlines.com through Wednesday, Feb. 29, for travel through mid-to late June, depending on the market. The new flights are currently available only on the airline's website and through its reservations centers; they will be for sale through other ticketing channels this weekend.
Reach DAVE GALLAGHER at [email protected] or call 715-2269. Visit his business blog online at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/business or get updates on Twitter at twitter.com/BhamHeraldBiz.
Copyright 2012 - The Bellingham Herald, Wash.