Frontier Airlines will again look at expanding beyond its Denver hub, chief executive Jeff Potter said Friday.
Nearly all of Frontier’s flights go to or from Denver. The only exceptions are flights to Mexico from Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis and Nashville, Tenn.
“We will continue to focus on developing the Denver hub but will also be pursuing point-to-point opportunities that pose limited financial risk for us,” Potter said in an earnings conference call. He did not reveal what cities Frontier may serve.
Frontier stepped out of its Denver comfort zone last year when it started and quit an unsuccessful Los Angeles operation.
Stepped-up competition from larger carriers left Frontier with an excess of empty seats on planes.
But Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said there are “plenty of great opportunities outside of Denver.”
“We’re gaining a pretty critical mass and awareness outside of Denver, so it’s time to leverage that reputation outside of Denver,” he said.
Hodas said flights outside the Denver hub can also help to expand the way passengers are routed and increase the rate of aircraft use.
Separately, Frontier chief financial officer Paul Tate said the April snowstorm that led to canceled and delayed flights cost the airline $546,000 in operating expenses.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
