The dismantling of Lynx Aviation begins in earnest today with the first major wave of employee layoffs and three planes taken out of service.
Created in 2007 as a regional feeder to Frontier Airlines, Lynx will cease to exist by September.
Officials for Frontier’s new owner, Republic Airways, said passengers prefer small jets to turboprops, the carrier wasn’t big enough to make the bottom line work and it made more sense to maintain just two types of aircraft.
“People are a bit down today,” said one Lynx employee who didn’t want to be identified because he wants to keep his job as long as he can. “Pilots have been turning in their books. It’s tough.”
Republic is pulling three of Lynx’s 11 Bombardier Q400 turboprops from service today. They will be replaced with Embraer 170 and 190 jets flown by Republic pilots.
Three more Q400s will be removed from service April 19. Those six, which are owned by Republic, will be sold. The remaining Q400s will be phased out by September.
About half of Lynx’s 400 employees will be laid off this month.
Airline spokeswoman Lindsey Purves said Monday that layoffs stood at 67.
“However, we do anticipate many openings for our Lynx team members at both Frontier and Republic,” Purves said.
A few already have accepted those positions.
Employees said they plan a potluck today to gather before co-workers scatter.
Service will continue to nine of Lynx’s 11 current destinations. Two cities — Fargo, N.D., and Tulsa, Okla. — will be removed from the route map today.
“The continued dedication of our team, given the circumstances, is truly remarkable and it’s something these Lynx team members can take with them and be proud of the rest of their lives,” Lynx president Cam Kenyon said in a statement.
“We were able to pull traffic from areas and feed that into Denver,” said Jenn McKnight, a 10-year employee who is manager of technical publications.
But late 2007 was an unfortunate time to start an airline, with the recession and then-parent company Frontier forced into bankruptcy, McKnight said.
“Without (Frontier’s) bankruptcy, the future would have been bright for Lynx,” McKnight said. “This is a sad reality, but I think there are good things out there for our people.”
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
Lynx at a glance
Fleet: 11 Bombardier Q400 turboprops
Seating capacity: 74 per plane
Destinations: 11
Interim president: Cameron Kenyon
Employees: 400, including 120 pilots and 110 flight attendants
Tail designs: Baby versions of Frontier’s animals
Chronology
Dec. 7, 2007: Passenger operations begin
Oct. 1, 2009: Acquired by Republic Airways
Feb. 4, 2010: Republic announces it will use small jets on Lynx routes
