The latest in a time of change for low-cost airlines.
By Stella Shon
Stella Shon
Stella Shon is an aviation news writer. Her work has been featured in publications including The Points Guy, USA Today, and others. Globetrotting more than 100,000 miles every year, she loves flying new airlines and scoping out remodeled airports. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on December 18, 2024
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A Frontier Airlines airplane as it takes off . Photo: Bob Grif/Getty Images
Low-cost Frontier Airlines is adjusting its route network and suspending more than 40 less profitable flights through February.
The airline, which has released its flight schedule until April 21, 2025, shows far-reaching service reductions at a number of airports. Notably, Atlanta (ATL), Cleveland (CLE), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), and Raleigh-Durham (RDU) have already experienced — or will soon face — substantial cutbacks over the coming weeks, as seen in data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.
In Raleigh-Durham, travelers will no longer see nonstop flights to Buffalo (BUF), Chicago-Midway (MDW), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Cincinnati (CVG), Hartford (BDL), Indianapolis (IND), New Orleans (MSY), Pittsburgh (PIT), and Syracuse (SYR).
Frontier is also cutting routes from two of the nation’s largest hub airports. From Dallas-Fort Worth, flights to Jacksonville (JAX), Omaha (OMA), Nashville (BNA), Pittsburgh (PIT), San Juan (SJU), Sacramento (SMF), and St. Louis (STL) are being suspended. Meanwhile, Atlanta (ATL) will see service eliminated to Grand Rapids (GRR), Islip (ISP), Minneapolis (MSP), New Orleans (MSY), Pittsburgh (PIT), and Syracuse (SYR).
In Cleveland, travelers will lose flights to Baltimore (BWI), Charlotte (CLT), Houston (IAH), Minneapolis (MSP), and Philadelphia (PHL), while Cincinnati (CVG) travelers will lose nonstop service to Houston (IAH), New York (LGA), Minneapolis (MSP), and Philadelphia (PHL).
Furthermore, Philadelphia (PHL) will see routes to Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), and Pittsburgh (PIT) cut. Frontier is also ending its Charlotte (CLT) to San Juan (SJU) route in early January.
On the West Coast and in the Mountain West, further cuts include routes from Ontario (ONT) to Salt Lake City (SLC), Sacramento (SMF), Portland (PDX), and Phoenix (PHX). Denver (DEN) will also lose flights to Colombus (CMH), Grand Rapids (GRR), New York (LGA), and Syracuse (SYR).
Many of these discontinued routes remain covered by competing airlines, including major carriers like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. However, some routes are being picked up by emerging players like Breeze Airways, which has been outperforming Frontier in these markets. A few of these cuts, however, will leave gaps in service.
Several low-cost airlines — Frontier included — are set for significant changes in the coming year. In 2025, Frontier plans to introduce new first-class recliner seats in the first two rows of its aircraft, marking a shift from its traditionally budget-focused model.