Frontier to fly to Jackson

Frontier to fly to Jackson

By Cory Hatch, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Date: February 14, 2008

Frontier Airlines will begin flying three planes a day into Jackson Hole starting in mid-May, according to a Jackson Hole Airport official.

The low-fare airline is expected to make a formal announcement today.

Airport director Ray Bishop said airline officials have not yet released the names of cities that will connect with Jackson Hole, but Denver International Airport is the Frontier Airlines hub. Frontier is expected to fly into Jackson Hole 365 days a year.

Bishop said Frontier could provide competition for United Airlines, which also flies out of Denver.

“You never know,” Bishop said. “Typically, Frontier has a reputation as a low-cost airline. We could expect to see fares to Denver go down.”

The airline will use 70-seat Q400 turboprop aircraft, which Bishop said should have few problems flying into and out of Jackson Hole.

“It’s much better at the higher altitudes and shorter runways,” he said. “It’s a very good airplane for mountain resorts.”

Jackson Hole Airport has previously had problems with SkyWest CRJ-700s, which the Federal Aviation Administration hasn’t cleared for temperatures and runway conditions that occur regularly at Jackson Hole Airport.

Frontier will add 210 departure seats per day; the airport’s peak is more than 2,800 departure seats per day during the summer.

Bishop said one problem with bringing in a new carrier is that it will increase traffic in the already crowded terminal. He said the expected increase at the airport highlights the need for a terminal expansion, which is in the planning stages.