DENVER—After a two-month delay, Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc. said Tuesday it expects to receive federal certification and launch its new regional turboprop operation by Thursday.
The Denver-based carrier had hoped to start the subsidiary, called Lynx Aviation, in October but the Federal Aviation Administration was still reviewing its application. At the time, FAA officials said the process takes time but they didn’t know of any specific issues delaying Frontier’s request.
“Final certification is expected by Dec. 6 and Lynx anticipates its first flights that afternoon,” Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said.
The operation will use turboprop planes on routes to Wichita, Kan.; Rapid City, S.D.; Sioux City, Iowa; Billings, Mont., and Tulsa, Okla., he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Ted Christie, a Frontier vice president of finance, told analysts that they hoped to have Lynx in operation by Friday. He discussed Frontier’s operations on a webcast during the Calyon Securities airline conference in New York.
Frontier announced plans for the regional operation in September 2006 with the goal of serving smaller and mid-sized cities that lack of competitive air service.
Lynx will use 74-seat Bombardier Inc. turboprop planes that will fly under the Frontier name.
As it awaited approval, Frontier began flying three Lynx routes—to Wichita, Kan., Rapid City, S.D., and Sioux City, Iowa—in October with aircraft from its regional partners.
Frontier serves cities in 32 states, Mexico and Canada from its Denver International Airport hub where it is in a competitive battle with United Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
Frontier’s stock dropped 7 cents to close at $5.80 a share Tuesday.
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