Employees and supporters of Frontier Airlines ar rallying today in downtown Denver to help preserve the hometown air carrier.
Called “Save the Animals” in reference to the critters on Frontier planes’ tails, the rally began at noon with a “peaceful demonstration” at Mayor John Hickenlooper’s office.
The group, togged out in Frontier uniforms and gear with cow bells, whistles and hula hoops, is walking down the 16th Street Mall.
“We want the citizens of Denver to throw their support behind our great organization,” the website states.
Monday is the deadline for binding bids to acquire Frontier, which filed for bankruptcy in April 2008. If there are two or more bids, an auction will be held beginning Tuesday.
Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings offered in late June to acquire Frontier for $108.7 million, saying it planned to operate Frontier as usual.
Last week, Southwest Airlines submitted a nonbinding proposal of $113.6 million.
Southwest executives said initial plans call for integrating Frontier into Southwest within two years, with Frontier planes sold off and Frontier employees hired by Southwest “as needed to support our fleet growth and expanded operations.”
The majority of Frontier’s 5,000 employees “are absolutely sick about the possibility of being owned by Southwest,” a Frontier flight-crew member requesting anonymity told The Denver Post. “There is nothing good about this acquisition. It’s bad for Denver’s economy.”
The rally is not a protest, organizers say, adding, “We will not stand by and do nothing and watch our company disappear without a fight.”
Frontier provides “huge service to the people of and the visitors to Colorado,” the organizers said.
Frontier spokesman Steve Snyder said the rally has been organized by Frontier employees on their own time.
“While we appreciate their passion for our company, Frontier is bound by rules set up by the (bankruptcy) court for the auction process,” Snyder said.
Frontier must be “absolutely neutral in the process,” Snyder said, and not endorse one group over another.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
