Travelers have been avoiding connections through Denver International Airport since the December snowstorms that temporarily paralyzed air travel through Denver, according to Frontier Airlines chief executive Jeff Potter.
“Until probably two to three weeks ago, we actually saw a decrease in bookings on the connect side of our business,” Potter said during a presentation at a JPMorgan Aviation and Transportation Conference in New York today. “It appears that there was a book-away.”
Frontier lost $13.2 million in revenue in December as a result of the blizzards, but the carry-over effect extended into January and February, Potter said.
Separately, Potter said the company expects its diversification strategy to expand international flights to more than 20 percent of its business by 2009, with Q400 turboprop flights making up about 6.3 percent and regional jet flights making up about 8.4 percent. Frontier expects Southwest flights will overlap with about 17 percent of its business by then.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-954-1488 or at kyamanouchi@denverpost.com .
