Locals of Spokane have spoken up about Frontier Airlines quiet decision to axe flights with allegedly no notice. A Spokane local who spoke directly to Simple Flying on Wednesday has claimed that the airline ‘quietly shut its doors without notice to passengers’ a day earlier than planned. Additionally, there are claims that employees only received 48 hours’ notice to dismantle the ticket counters, remove kiosks, and any terminal signage.
Frontier is one of the largest budget airlines in the United States, known for its no-frills onboard offering and iconic aircraft with endangered animals on its tail. The airline, which announced plans to axe several flights in its network, allegedly has done so at Spokane with little to no notice.
A Spokane Local’s Account of Its Exit From The Airport
The individual who spoke to Simple Flying noted that Frontier corporate came to the airport on Friday to dismantle any last evidence of the airline flying to GEG. his comes as a double blow, following Spirit Airlines’ recent demise and exit from the airport. According to the account, Frontier flight 3357 arrived at 11:36 AM and departed shortly after at 12:31 PM. This marked the final flight to the airport, and it is alleged that employees or customers had no idea this was the last flight.
It is believed that Frontier was the only airline that offered its own wheelchair assistance at the airport, which set the carrier apart from others. The locals believe that Spokane is very much in need of a carrier like Frontier, and that the airline’s decision to exit at the beginning of what is usually a busy summer season will disrupt many travel plans. Frontier shared the following statement in relation to its exit from Spokane:
“We made the difficult decision to end our service at Spokane International Airport (GEG) based on demand and current market dynamics. We appreciate our relationship with each airport and, as with any market exit, we will continue to evaluate future opportunities to return.”
Frontier’s decision to axe flights to Spokane will see the carrier stop flying from Denver International Airport (DEN) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Looking at data from the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Frontier has struggled to maintain a significant presence at the airport, which is otherwise dominated by Southwest Airlines (22% of operations), SkyWest (American Airlines and Alaska Airlines at 18% and Delta Air Lines (16%).
The airlines’ exit from serving Denver will be left up to both Southwest and United, who serve the route, while services to Phoenix remain in operation by American and Southwest. In all, seven airlines serve Spokane to more than 20 destinations across the United States. The most popular routes from GEG are to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Denver and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
Spokane is the major airport serving Spokane and the state of Washington’s Inland Northwest, and is located seven miles (11 km) from the city’s downtown core. The airport is the second busiest in the state and is home to two runways (03/21 and 08/26). Inside the terminal, there are three main structures separated into Concourse A, B, and C.
The carrier is pruning thin routes while concentrating more flying in larger, higher-priority markets.
As previously reported by Simple Flying, Frontier announced last month it planned to cut several routes as the airline exited six cities and suspended up to 20 routes in the third quarter of the year. This saw the airline choose to leave Corpus Christi (CRP), McGhee Tyson (TYS), Princess Juliana (SXM), Juan Santamaria (SJO), Sarasota Bradenton (SRQ), and Spokane.
The airline, which quite clearly identified its last routes at Spokane to be July 3, appears to have taken action to axe flights a day earlier than planned. While it’s understandable for locals to be upset that the airline is removing its service to the airport, it can be common practice for a carrier to adjust schedules depending on operational loads and aircraft requirements elsewhere.
Spokane remains an attractive regional market; however, it appears that the routes served from the airport are not viable for the Denver-based airline at present. It will be interesting to see if the airline reconsiders its options next summer, and if Spokane will be willing to welcome the airline back with open arms.
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