Frontier backs off at Memphis, strengthens other routes

Denver-based Frontier Airlines, which several months ago sought to build a beachhead at Memphis with non-stop flights there bypassing its home base, is pulling out. Except for its Memphis-Denver service, Frontier plans to abandon its new Memphis routes, including Memphis-Las Vegas January 4, Memphis-Orlando January 7 and Memphis-Ft. Lauderdale January 6. Frontier’s incursion into Memphis had evoked a stern competitive response from incumbent Northwest Airlines. Frontier is also cutting back some of its routes to Mexico this winter: On January 8 it will end service from San Jose and Sacramento to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta; flights from Denver to Guadalajara will stop January 14; and service from Indianapolis, Nashville and St. Louis to Cancun will operate on weekends only during Frontier’s winter schedule, and will be dropped during summer and early fall. At the same time, Frontier’s winter schedule provides for capacity increases on 17 domestic routes starting January 18. Most affected routes out of Denver will get one additional roundtrip flight, but Denver-Las Vegas will increase from six flights a day to nine, and Denver-Oklahoma City service will increase from two flights a day to four.