AUSTIN- Frontier Airlines (F9) has substantially reduced its flight routes in Austin. Back in 2018, the airline provided 30 nonstop routes from the city. Frontier only offers service on two routes departing from Austin, specifically nonstop flights to Denver (DEN) and Las Vegas (LAS).
However, during the most recent Airport Advisory Commission meeting, Jamy Kazanoff, responsible for overseeing the airport’s air service, confirmed that Frontier will discontinue its Las Vegas route. The last Frontier flight between Austin and Las Vegas is set to take place on November 13.
Frontier Airlines Austin Routes
In recent years, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) has experienced a substantial increase in new air service. Daily departures and seat capacity have grown by nearly 40% compared to 2019, with nearly 30 new nonstop destinations added.
The majority of this capacity expansion has been driven by American Airlines (AA), which has introduced more than 35 new routes from Austin since 2019, along with Southwest Airlines (WN). Other U.S. carriers like Alaska Airlines (AS), Allegiant Air, and Delta Air Lines have (DL) also expanded their capacity at Austin.
In contrast, Frontier Airlines has significantly scaled back its operations in Austin. IshionAviation exclusively reports it.
Last Route Standing
Following the discontinuation of the Las Vegas route, Frontier Airlines will operate only one route from Austin during the winter season, offering service to Denver three times a week.
Frontier Airlines started reducing its presence in Austin in 2019 compared to the previous year, and the pandemic further accelerated these reductions from 2020 onwards.
While other airlines swiftly restored their capacity in Austin and exceeded 2019 levels, Frontier Airlines continued to downsize its network in Austin, resulting in a loss of market share.
After discontinuing the Las Vegas route, Frontier Airlines will operate only one route from Austin this winter, offering service to Denver three times a week.
Pandemic Exposed Routes
Frontier Airlines had already started reducing its presence in Austin in 2019 compared to the previous year, but the pandemic worsened the decline from 2020 onwards. While other airlines quickly restored capacity in Austin, surpassing 2019 levels, Frontier Airlines continued to scale back its network in Austin, leading to a loss of market share.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the airline industry in March 2020, all carriers reduced their capacity simultaneously, allowing Frontier Airlines to maintain a relatively stable market share in Austin for most of the year. However, as demand began to recover in 2021, Frontier chose not to restore most of its pre-pandemic routes in Austin and instead focused on a select few core routes.
This decision was influenced by increasing competition in the area, which may have discouraged Frontier from expanding. Meanwhile, other airlines continued to increase their capacity, gradually declining Frontier’s market share.
With only three weekly flights to Denver and the discontinuation of the Las Vegas route, Frontier’s decline in passenger numbers and market share is expected to continue. While Frontier does offer connections through its Denver hub, the AUS-DEN flight arrives after 9:00 PM, limiting the potential for convenient connections without requiring passengers to stay overnight in Denver.
Frontier’s challenges in Central Texas are not unique to Austin. In San Antonio (SAT), Frontier offered 23 nonstop routes in 2018, but today, their SAT network consists of only four routes.
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