A leading metro Denver business organization has been quietly trying to persuade Republic Airways Holdings to not only buy Frontier Airlines but also move Republic’s headquarters and maintenance operations to Denver.
Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., said in a Wednesday briefing to the group’s aviation coalition that his group has been attempting to “go after all of Republic.”
Republic and Southwest Airlines are in competition to buy bankrupt Frontier.
Clark said Indianapolis-based Republic would probably preserve and create more jobs than if Dallas-based Southwest is successful in acquiring Frontier.
Local business leaders particularly are concerned that Frontier’s 200-plus aircraft-maintenance jobs would be in jeopardy if Southwest prevails, Clark said. Frontier has an aircraft-maintenance operation at Denver International Airport.
Clark said companies with area headquarters are far more likely to contribute community philanthropy and to be involved in “civic engagement.”
If Southwest wins the bidding, Clark said, the nation’s largest discount carrier will significantly increase its DIA market share and should continue its role of keeping “competitive pressure on fares.”
“Regardless of the winner, the region will benefit,” Clark said of the Republic-Southwest competition.
Jeffrey Leib: 303-954-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com
