History of Frontier Airlines in Timeline
Frontier Airlines is a major American ultra low-cost carrier based in Denver, Colorado. It serves over 120 destinations in the US, Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. A publicly traded company, Frontier employs over 5,000 people and operates from a main base at Denver International Airport along with other bases in eleven additional cities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
1950: Original Frontier Airlines Operations
In 1950, the original Frontier Airlines began operating.
1978: Original Frontier Livery
In 1978, Saul Bass designed a stylized "F" typeface for the original Frontier's new livery, which was reintroduced in Frontier's updated livery on September 9, 2014.
1986: Original Frontier Airlines Ceases Operations
In 1986, the original Frontier Airlines ceased operations.
1993: AeroDenver Travel Services Proposal
In 1993, Frederick W. "Rick" Brown, Janice Brown, and Bob Schulman proposed a charter airline named AeroDenver Travel Services to fill demand on international routes, potentially in partnership with Condor Airlines, as Continental Airlines was scaling back flights from Denver's Stapleton International Airport.
1993: Pivot to Regional Routes and Name Adoption
In late 1993, as Continental's Denver drawback expanded, the proposed airline pivoted to fill regional routes and adopted the Frontier Airlines name.
May 1994: Frontier Airlines Goes Public
In May 1994, Frontier Airlines went public.
July 5, 1994: Scheduled Flights Begin
On July 5, 1994, Frontier Airlines began scheduled flights using Boeing 737-200 jetliners between Denver and four cities in North Dakota.
1994: Airline livery
From 1994, the airline's livery consisted of green script "Frontier" titles on the forward fuselage, a small "Spirit of the West" slogan, and wildlife photography on the tail of each aircraft.
1995: Denver International Airport Replaces Stapleton
In 1995, the Denver International Airport replaced the Stapleton International Airport.
1997: Aspen Mountain Air codeshare begins
From mid 1997, Aspen Mountain Air operated codeshare service for Frontier from Denver to Aspen, CO, Bozeman, MT, and Sioux City IA.
1998: Aspen Mountain Air codeshare continues
Through mid 1998, Aspen Mountain Air continued to operate codeshare service for Frontier from Denver to Aspen, CO, Bozeman, MT, and Sioux City IA.
September 1999: Coast-to-Coast Expansion
By September 1999, Frontier Airlines was serving destinations from coast to coast in the U.S. from its Denver hub, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Bloomington/Normal, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Orlando, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.
2001: Airline livery
From 2001, the airline's livery consisted of green script "Frontier" titles on the forward fuselage, a small "Spirit of the West" slogan, and wildlife photography on the tail of each aircraft.
2001: New Livery Introduced
In 2001, Frontier Airlines introduced a new livery on its Airbus A319s featuring large silver titles and the slogan "Spirit of the West", later changed to "A whole different animal."
2001: First Airbus Delivery and DirecTV Launch
In 2001, Frontier Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft (an A319) and simultaneously launched DirecTV in-flight television, along with a new company livery.
February 2002: Frontier JetExpress launched
In February 2002, Frontier Airlines launched its first regional product, Frontier JetExpress, operated by Mesa Airlines using CRJ-200 regional jets.
2002: Jeff Potter Appointed CEO
Jeff Potter was appointed CEO of Frontier Airlines in 2002.
2003: Launch Customer for Airbus A318
In 2003, Frontier Airlines was the launch customer of the Airbus A318.
2003: Frontier was the launch customer of the Airbus A318
In 2003, Frontier was the launch customer of the Airbus A318; between 2003 and 2007, the airline took delivery of eleven of the type.
2003: EarlyReturns program operated from 2003
The EarlyReturns program operated from 2003
January 2004: Partnership with Mesa Airlines ends
In January 2004, the initial JetExpress partnership between Frontier Airlines and Mesa Airlines ended, and Horizon Air was selected to operate the routes.
April 2005: All-Airbus Fleet
In mid-April 2005, Frontier Airlines officially became an all-Airbus fleet, retiring its last Boeing 737.
2005: Boeing 737s Remain in Fleet
Until 2005, Frontier's Boeing 737s remained in the fleet but were not repainted into the new livery introduced in 2001.
April 3, 2006: Creation of Frontier Airlines Holdings
On April 3, 2006, Frontier created Frontier Airlines Holdings (FRNT), a holding company incorporated in Delaware.
August 2006: Frontier and Horizon plan to end partnership
In August 2006, Frontier and Horizon Air made plans to end their partnership, with Frontier seeking a provider with more regional jets to grow the operation.
September 6, 2006: Lynx Aviation created
On September 6, 2006, Frontier created a new division of the holding company, known as Lynx Aviation, to operate Bombardier Q400 aircraft beginning in May 2007.
January 11, 2007: Service Agreement with Republic Airways
On January 11, 2007, Frontier Airlines signed an 11-year service agreement with Republic Airways for the operation of 17 76-seat Embraer 170 aircraft for the former Frontier JetExpress operations.
January 24, 2007: Designated as Major Carrier
On January 24, 2007, Frontier Airlines was designated as a major carrier by the United States Department of Transportation.
April 1, 2007: Louisville, Kentucky Service
On April 1, 2007, service to Louisville, Kentucky began as the first market created specifically for the Embraer 170.
May 2007: Lynx Aviation to operate Bombardier Q400
In May 2007, Frontier created a new division of the holding company, known as Lynx Aviation, to operate Bombardier Q400 aircraft.
November 2007: Flights operated by ExpressJet
As the service by Horizon Air was winding down in November 2007, Frontier had some flights operated by ExpressJet using Embraer 145 regional jets.
November 30, 2007: Horizon Air's service winding down
On November 30, 2007, the last of the CRJ-700s were returned to the Horizon Air fleet as the service by Horizon Air was winding down.
December 5, 2007: Lynx Aviation receives operating certificate
On December 5, 2007, Lynx Aviation received its operating certificate from the FAA, paving the way for commencing passenger operations.
December 6, 2007: Lynx Aviation begins passenger operations
On December 6, 2007, Lynx Aviation officially began passenger operations, marking a new phase for the division.
December 2007: Cessation of Horizon's Services
Subsequent to the cessation of Horizon's services for Frontier in December 2007, all flights operated by Republic were sold and marketed as "Frontier Airlines, operated by Republic Airways."
2007: Frontier took delivery of eleven Airbus A318 aircraft
Between 2003 and 2007, Frontier took delivery of eleven Airbus A318 aircraft.
2007: Lynx Aviation Subsidiary and CEO Change
In 2007, Frontier established a commuter airline subsidiary, Lynx Aviation, Inc., chaired by Dr. Paul Stephen Dempsey. Also that year, Jeff Potter left the company and was replaced by Air Canada's Sean Menke as CEO.
2007: Republic Airways operates for Frontier
In 2007, Republic Airways operated Embraer 170 regional jets on behalf of Frontier.
April 10, 2008: Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
On April 10, 2008, Frontier Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in reaction to First Data's intent to withhold significant proceeds from ticket sales.
April 2008: Contract Canceled, Republic Airways Fleet
In April 2008, the service agreement contract with Republic Airways was canceled. Republic Airways was operating 11 aircraft for Frontier Airlines at the time.
August 2008: Suspension of Louisville Service
Service to Louisville was suspended in August 2008.
November 2008: First Profit Reported
After months of losses, Frontier Airlines reported their first profit during the month of November 2008, reporting US$2.9 million in net income for the month.
December 2008: Expected Fleet Completion
In December 2008, the remaining six aircraft under the Republic Airways agreement were expected to join the fleet.
June 22, 2009: Republic Airways Acquisition Announcement
On June 22, 2009, Frontier Airlines announced that Republic Airways Holdings would acquire all assets of Frontier for $108 million, pending bankruptcy court approval, making Frontier a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic.
August 13, 2009: Republic Airways Acquisition
During a bankruptcy auction on August 13, 2009, Republic Airways Holdings acquired Frontier Airlines and its regional airline, Lynx Aviation, as wholly owned subsidiaries.
2009: Republic Airways resumes service for Frontier
In 2009, as Frontier and Midwest Airlines began merging and retaining the Frontier brand, Republic Airways resumed service for Frontier with Embraer 170s and also introduced larger Embraer 190 jets.
2009: Acquisition Bidding and Midwest Airlines
In 2009, as Republic Airways Holdings was in the process of bidding to acquire Frontier, it was also in the process of acquiring Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines.
2009: Consolidation of Positions
In late 2009, Republic began to consolidate administrative positions and moved 140 jobs from the Frontier Airlines Denver headquarters to Indianapolis.
January 2010: Executive Move Announcement
In January 2010, Republic Airways announced that it would move all of its executives to Indianapolis.
April 2010: Restart of Louisville Service
Service to Louisville was restarted in April 2010.
October 2010: Chautauqua Airlines begins service for Frontier
In October 2010, Chautauqua Airlines began providing service for Frontier with the merger of Frontier and Midwest. Chautauqua had been operating feeder flights on behalf of Midwest Airlines and began service for Frontier.
October 2010: Full Merger and Integration of Frontier and Midwest Airlines
Upon the full merger and integration of Frontier and Midwest Airlines in October 2010, Frontier and its regional partners operated over 100 daily flights from the Milwaukee hub.
2010: CEO on Undercover Boss
In 2010, Frontier's then-CEO Bryan Bedford took part in the reality TV show Undercover Boss.
2010: Retirement of Airbus A318 type began
In 2010, the retirement of Frontier's Airbus A318 aircraft began.
2010: Frontier and Midwest Airlines Brand Merger
In the spring of 2010, Frontier and Midwest Airlines announced that their brands would merge, with Frontier being the surviving brand.
April 13, 2011: Frontier Express Subsidiary Formed
On April 13, 2011, Frontier formed a new subsidiary, Frontier Express, that was planned to operate the airline's smaller aircraft with different services than those available on full-size aircraft.
September 9, 2011: Flight Reduction and Layoffs
On September 9, 2011, Frontier notified the public of a 40% reduction of arriving and departing flights from MKE. Along with this reduction of flights, the company laid off approximately 140 employees from the MKE station.
2011: Frontier Express flights begin
In 2011, Frontier began branding Chautauqua Airlines flights as Frontier Express, and new service began on subsidized Essential Air Service routes to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, as well as Ironwood and Manistee, Michigan.
2011: Republic Airways Holdings orders Airbus aircraft for Frontier
In 2011, Republic Airways Holdings ordered 60 Airbus A320neo aircraft and 20 Airbus A319neo aircraft for Frontier Airlines.
January 2012: Intention to Sell or Spin Off Frontier
In January 2012, Republic Airways Holdings announced its intention to sell or spin off Frontier in an effort to focus on regional contract flights for major carriers.
January 26, 2012: Appointment of David Siegel as CEO
On January 26, 2012, Republic Airways Holdings appointed former US Airways and Gate Gourmet CEO David Siegel as president and CEO of Frontier Airlines.
February 2012: Further Service Reduction in Milwaukee
In February 2012, Frontier Airlines further reduced service to Milwaukee by cutting five more nonstop routes, reducing daily departing flights out of Mitchell International from 32 to 18. Frontier announced further layoffs in conjunction with this route change; up to 446 Milwaukee-area employees were affected.
November 2012: Service to Trenton-Mercer Airport
In November 2012, Frontier started low-frequency service between Orlando International Airport and Trenton-Mercer Airport, which at that time, had no commercial service.
2012: Pull-down of Milwaukee hub
By the end of 2012, Frontier almost immediately began a pull-down of the Milwaukee hub, and the only route that continued to operate with a Frontier Express ERJ-145 jet was Milwaukee to Rhinelander.
2012: New animal audition winner: Polly the Parrot
In 2012, Polly the Parrot won the new animal audition for Frontier Airlines, joining the other animal mascots used in their radio and television commercials as part of the "a whole different animal" campaign.
2012: Lynx Aviation operation folded into Republic Airways
In 2012, the Lynx Aviation operation was folded into Republic Airways Holdings' subsidiary, Republic Airways. The remaining Q400 aircraft were withdrawn from Frontier service and placed in service for United Airlines, flying as United Express.
January 3, 2013: Service to Rhinelander ends
On January 3, 2013, Frontier's service to Rhinelander ended, and Chautauqua transferred the remaining aircraft to other partners, marking the end of Frontier Express operations in Milwaukee.
April 2013: Modified Livery Introduced
In April 2013, Frontier introduced a modified version of its livery, keeping the iconic animals but replacing "FRONTIER" with "FLYFRONTIER.COM" to emphasize its web presence. This change was only applied to newly delivered aircraft.
July 2013: Service from Wilmington-New Castle Airport
In July 2013, Frontier started service from Wilmington-New Castle Airport near Wilmington, Delaware, to five destinations, which Frontier markets as Wilmington/Philadelphia. This airport had no commercial service prior to Frontier's entry.
October 2013: Agreement with Indigo Partners
In October 2013, Republic Airways Holdings entered into an agreement with private equity firm Indigo Partners to sell Frontier Airlines for approximately $145 million.
December 2013: Purchase Completion by Indigo Partners
In December 2013, Indigo Partners LLC, through an affiliate, completed the purchase of Frontier Airlines from Republic Airways Holdings.
2013: Frontier completes A318 retirement
By autumn 2013, Frontier Airlines had completed the retirement of its Airbus A318 aircraft, and all were parted out for scrap.
January 1, 2014: Cessation of Embraer 190 Operation
On January 1, 2014, Republic Airways Holdings subsidiary Republic Airlines ceased its operation of Embraer 190 aircraft on behalf of Frontier.
April 2014: Barry L. Biffle appointed as company's president
In April 2014, Barry L. Biffle was appointed as the company's president, reporting to Dave Siegel. After Siegel's departure, Biffle was charged with managing the company's day-to-day operations.
June 2014: Crew base opened at Trenton–Mercer Airport
In June 2014, Frontier Airlines opened a new crew base for flight attendants at Trenton–Mercer Airport to support its operations.
September 9, 2014: Updated Livery Introduced
On September 9, 2014, Frontier Airlines introduced an updated livery as part of a rebranding effort. The livery reintroduced a green "FRONTIER" typeface and included the traditional arrow used by the original Frontier prior to 1978.
2014: Frontier orders Airbus A321neo aircraft
In 2014, Frontier Airlines ordered 19 Airbus A321neo aircraft.
2014: Transition to Ultra Low-Cost Carrier
In 2014, Frontier announced it would be transitioning into an ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC). Frontier also announced that it would cut several flights and jobs at its Denver hub and transition them to different markets.
January 2015: Flight cuts and service resumption
In January 2015, Frontier Airlines reduced several flights from Wilmington and Trenton but also resumed service to Philadelphia, which raised concerns about the existing airline bases.
February 2015: New service to Atlanta
In February 2015, Frontier announced it would begin service to several destinations from Atlanta, effectively designating the airport as a focus city.
May 2015: David Siegel departs as CEO
In May 2015, Indigo and Frontier announced the departure of David Siegel as CEO. His duties were split between Barry Biffle and Indigo chairman Bill Franke due to operational issues.
June 2015: Elimination of Toll-Free Number
Frontier Airlines joined Spirit and Allegiant in June 2015 by eradicating its toll-free telephone number for customer service.
June 2015: Service ceased in Wilmington
In late June 2015, Frontier Airlines announced that it had ceased service in Wilmington, citing a lack of profitability as the reason for the discontinuation.
2015: Airline quality rating report
In 2015, Frontier was ranked among the five worst airlines in the United States in an airline quality rating report due to customer complaints, bumped passengers, poor on-time performance, and long call waiting times.
June 2016: Service re-established to John Glenn Columbus International Airport
In June 2016, Frontier Airlines re-established its service to John Glenn Columbus International Airport, enhancing its network.
October 2016: Frontier Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft
In October 2016, Frontier Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft, becoming the second US operator of the type after Spirit Airlines.
December 2016: Winter weather disrupts fleet operations
In December 2016, a winter weather event caused Frontier Airlines to delay or cancel up to 70% of its flights, especially impacting its Denver hub, and led to criticism from the pilot's union.
2016: Initial Selection of LEAP-1A Engines for A320neo Order
When the order for A320neos was placed in 2016, the initial selection was exclusively for the LEAP-1A engines.
May 2017: New crew base in Las Vegas
In May 2017, Frontier Airlines announced its plans to open a new crew base in Las Vegas in the fall of 2017, intending to improve operational reliability and potentially generate new jobs in the area.
November 15, 2017: Frontier Airlines Announces Order for 134 Additional A320neo Family Aircraft
On November 15, 2017, Frontier Airlines announced a $15 billion order for 134 additional A320neo family aircraft, consisting of 100 A320neos and 34 A321neos. The order also included the conversion of the remaining A319neo to A320neo.
2018: Frontier Fleet's Average Age at Five Years
As of 2018, Frontier Airlines' fleet sought industry-leading fuel efficiency as well as one of the youngest and most modern fleets, particularly in comparison to other low-cost carriers, with an average fleet age of five years.
2018: EarlyReturns Program Replaced by Frontier Miles
Frontier Miles is the airline's frequent-flyer program, which replaced the EarlyReturns program that operated from 2003 to 2018.
2018: Great Lakes Airlines shuts down
In 2018, Great Lakes Airlines, which operated a codeshare service with Frontier from the early 2000s, shut down completely.
2020: Lease Extended Through 2020
According to the Denver Business Journal, Frontier Airlines will still maintain a local headquarters in Denver after extending its lease on the building through 2020.
2020: Class-action lawsuits over refunds
In 2020, class-action lawsuits were filed against Frontier after the company refused to refund airfare for customers unable to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company accepted U.S. government funds to offset financial damage.
April 1, 2021: Initial public offering on Nasdaq
On April 1, 2021, Frontier became a public company with an initial public offering on the Nasdaq exchange, adopting the ticker symbol ULCC to reflect its ultra low-cost carrier business model.
2021: Frontier transitions A320neo orders to PW1100G engines
In 2021 Frontier Airlines transitioned remaining A320neo orders to come with the PW1100G engines.
July 27, 2022: Shareholders reject Frontier's offer to acquire Spirit Airlines
On July 27, 2022, Spirit Airlines' shareholders rejected Frontier's US$2.8 billion cash-and-stock deal offer to acquire Spirit Airlines, after JetBlue made a competing offer.
November 2022: New operating base at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
In November 2022, Frontier Airlines announced it would establish a new crew operating base at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in early 2023 and add a gate in DFW Terminal E.
2022: Departure from Wilmington-New Castle Airport
As of 2022, Frontier does not serve Wilmington-New Castle Airport (ILG).
2022: Only Carrier at Trenton
Frontier was the only carrier at ILG until it left in 2022.
January 2023: Trenton Service Expansion
As of January 2023, Frontier served nine destinations from Trenton and bases three aircraft there.
2023: Frontier releases "Fur & Feathers" Calendar
In 2023, Frontier Airlines introduced a new approach with their animal mascots taking on promiscuous roles in a calendar titled "Fur & Feathers".
2023: Class-action lawsuits regarding baggage fees
In 2023, Frontier faced a series of class-action lawsuits in multiple states alleging that passengers with bags meeting the airline's advertised personal item size were systematically forced to check their bags at the gate, incurring a $100 fee. The airline admitted that its policies were not being "consistently applied" by its gate agents and that it paid them a commission bonus for baggage fees.
February 2024: Viral video on baggage policy
In February 2024, a video criticizing Frontier's baggage policy went viral on TikTok, alleging that Frontier covertly uses baggage sizers smaller than the advertised dimensions to charge customers for baggage.
May 2024: Frontier Introduced BizFare
In May 2024, Frontier introduced a low-cost bundled fare option called "BizFare," which includes seat selection, a carry-on bag, and flexibility to change flights without penalty.
December 4, 2024: Testimony before Senate Subcommittee on Investigations
On December 4, 2024, Frontier's Senior Vice-President Robert Schroeter testified before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations about predatory "junk" fees for baggage. Senators criticized Frontier's incentive program for its gate agents, which had resulted in $26 million being paid out in baggage fee commissions by 2023.
2024: Frontier Miles Transitions to Revenue-Based Accrual Program
In 2024, Frontier Miles transitioned to a revenue-based accrual program, where Frontier Miles are accrued based on the amount spent on travel with the airline, or alternatively through co-branded products and services.
2024: Revamp of the frequent flyer program in 2024
Prior to the revamp of the program in 2024, it had three tiers consisting of Elite 20k, 50k, and 100k.
2025: Frontier Airlines Operates A320neos with GE and Pratt & Whitney Engines
As of 2025, Frontier Airlines has begun operating A320neos (including the A321neo) with a mix of General Electric (CFM) LEAP-1A and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G GTF engines.
2025: Frontier Receives A320neo Aircraft with Airspace Cabin
At the end of 2025, Frontier Airlines began receiving A320neo aircraft equipped with the Airspace cabin, which includes enhanced mood lighting, revised PSUs and overhead bins, along with minor cosmetic changes. All remaining A320neo and A321neo on order will be equipped with the Airspace cabin.
2025: Skytrax's ranking
In 2025, Frontier, known for having the lowest cost per mile in North America at $0.0985, ranked fifth in the 2025 edition of Skytrax's annual "Best Low-Cost Airlines in North America" ranking.
January 2026: Frontier Airlines operates an all-Airbus A320 family fleet
As of January 2026, Frontier Airlines operates an all-Airbus A320 family fleet.
2026: Frontier Rolls Out Additional Bundle Options
As of 2026, Frontier has rolled out additional bundle options, which align the onboard experience to more traditional airlines.
2026: Frontier Airlines to Roll Out First Class hard product
In 2026, Frontier Airlines will be rolling out a First Class hard product with seats designed by Geven (an Italian company). The First Class seats will be offered on-board alongside the current UpFront Plus upgraded seating option.
Mentioned in this timeline
The United States of America is a federal republic located...
The Boeing Company is a multinational corporation and one of...
Las Vegas Nevada's most populous city and the seat of...
Arizona is a state in the Southwestern United States part...
The Great Lakes are a chain of five large interconnected...
John Herschel Glenn Jr was a multifaceted American figure who...
Trending
21 minutes ago Candace Owens accuses Erika Kirk of plotting against Charlie Kirk; Netizens react.
22 minutes ago Navone vs. O'Connell: Tiriac Open 2026 Prediction, Odds, and Match Preview
1 hour ago Tesla Model Y: FSD 14 Drives 93-Year-Old, Rivian R2 Challenges Dominance
1 hour ago Shevchenko vs Turcanu: Odds, Predictions, and Betting for the 2026 Tiriac Open
1 hour ago Bronzeville blood drive addresses need for diverse donors, Northwestern Medicine and Red Cross partner.
1 hour ago Lamar Odom's documentary unveils trauma, marriage with Khloe Kardashian, and life struggles.
Popular
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Sir David Attenborough is a highly influential British broadcaster biologist...
Cristiano Ronaldo known as CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...
George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a...
Jimmy Kimmel is an American television host and comedian most...