Frontier expands in Atlanta, sees room for more

The Denver-based airline has added several cities from Hartsfield-Jackson.

The Denver-based airline has added several cities from Hartsfield-Jackson.

As Denver-based Frontier Airlines launched new routes from Atlanta on Thursday, the ultra-low-cost carrier showed interest in expanding further at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Frontier launched flights from Atlanta to New York LaGuardia, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Cincinnati this week, an expansion that gives it a total of 16 nonstop routes from Atlanta.

“We’re interesting in working with the airport over time to figure out more facility options to potentially grow that service,” said Frontier senior vice president Daniel Shurz. He added that there is “probably sufficient demand in the market” for 40 more daily flights from Atlanta by ultra-low-cost carriers, beyond what Frontier and competitor Spirit Airlines have already announced.

“Since Southwest bought AirTran, fares have risen in Atlanta quite significantly,” Shurz said. “We’re bringing back fares to the Atlanta market that customers haven’t seen in a number of years,” he said, including a one-day sale Thursday with fares from Atlanta starting at $19 to $99 each way. Frontier charges extra for checked bags, carry-on bags in overhead bins and soft drinks on board.