Airports across the country have put together thousands of dollars in incentives to attract Frontier Airlines service and are waiting for word from the carrier about where it will fly.
Meanwhile, airports along the Front Range are trying to lure a Frontier maintenance hangar with incentives.
Frontier subsidiary Lynx Aviation, which will operate a fleet of new Q400 turboprop planes to Rocky Mountain-region airports, is waiting for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin selling tickets and announcing routes.
Meanwhile, the company has already listed job openings online for Lynx city managers in Wichita and Billings, Mont.
Frontier had service to Wichita several years ago but discontinued it. Billings Logan International Airport, which Frontier already serves with regional jets, has a third daily flight from Frontier this summer. The airport’s assistant director, Kevin Ploehn, said Billings may get Frontier service on Lynx.
More than 60 airports sent in proposals for service with Lynx or Frontier’s regional jet operation.
“It has certainly been a positive response,” said Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas.
“It’s always encouraging to know you are wanted in a community.”
Aspen put together $100,000 in marketing subsidies, while Vail gathered $180,000 in in-kind marketing support along with more than $30,000 from Glenwood Springs. Durango is offering a package totaling $257,500.
Sioux Falls, S.D., is offering $250,000 in incentives.
Meanwhile, airports along the Front Range last week sent in proposals for Frontier’s heavy-maintenance hangar.
Frontier leases a portion of Continental Airlines’ hangar at Denver International Airport but wants a new hangar at DIA and is negotiating with the city. It also is entertaining bids from other airports.
Front Range Airport’s incentives include its enterprise zone, said airport director Dennis Heap. He sees Front Range’s proximity to DIA and Frontier headquarters as an advantage, and he said, “they’ve got a workforce that’s already established in Denver.”
Front Range has also offered Frontier an existing hangar for Lynx maintenance that could accommodate two Q400 planes.
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield is offering close to $900,000 in incentives and savings, said airport manager Kenny Maenpa. A new hangar could be more than 100,000 square feet on 11 acres, with 200 employees or more.
“It becomes a real gem,” Maenpa said. “It’s kind of like a shopping mall getting a big-box retail store. If you can get a Frontier Airlines maintenance operation on your airport, it definitely becomes a big anchor for other development on the airport as well.”
Colorado Springs has hangar space available but did not discuss what it can offer to Frontier.
The airport is also in an enterprise zone and can designate areas as foreign-trade zones.
Pueblo Memorial Airport has developed a new commercial hangar on its grounds to attract business.
Centennial Airport declined to bid on the maintenance hangar because it is not engineered to handle Frontier’s aircraft.
Frontier sent the request for proposals to DIA, Centennial, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, Front Range, Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins/Loveland.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
