Frontier Airlines has applied for government authority to fly between the United States and Canada starting about May 24.
Frontier now flies only domestically and to Mexico. It may start with flights from Denver to Canada through its code-share agreement with Horizon Air. That carrier already flies to Canada from other cities and is a sister carrier of Alaska Airlines. Frontier is seeking permission for flights to Canada through its existing arrangement with Horizon Air or with its own aircraft.
Frontier is seeking United States and Canadian government approvals. The approval process could take 60 days or less.
Frontier said Thursday in its application to the U.S. Department of Transportation that it expects demand for its service to Canada to “expand in a manner similar to its levels of service to Mexico.”
Frontier flies from Denver to seven cities in Mexico, from four other U.S. cities to Cancún and from Kansas City to Puerto Vallarta.
If granted approval, Frontier might fly to Toronto, Montreal, Calgary or Vancouver, said Benchmark Co. analyst Helane Becker. With a Denver-Vancouver route, in particular, “you’ve kind of got a ski-to-ski market.”
Boyd said other possible destinations might include Ottawa, Victoria and smaller places such as resort area Kamloops.
Air Canada and United, which have a code- share partnership, already fly from Denver to Canada. Air Canada flies from Denver to Toronto and in June will begin flying to Montreal. United flies from Denver to Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Calgary and will begin flying to Toronto in June.
Further, Frontier plans to expand to at least three new domestic cities this year and will add more than 20 flights on existing routes from April through July. Frontier chief executive Jeff Potter said his airline will eventually be larger than the old Frontier Airlines, which folded in 1986 and was bought by People’s Express.
Along with its growth plans, Frontier is looking for more gates at Denver International Airport. Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said the company met with airport officials Thursday about how to secure room to grow at DIA.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
