Frontier Arlines adds nonstop flights between Florida and Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City-Denver route’s ‘terrific response’ sparked new plan
BY JENNIFER PALMER
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Published: November 3, 2009
If Florida is on your vacation wish list, now may be the time for a getaway.
A sign near the Southwest Airlines ticket counter at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. By Paul B. Southerland
Multimedia
Frontier Airlines is adding nonstop flights from
Oklahoma City to
Orlando, Fla., and
Tampa, Fla., starting Jan. 15. Fares currently are a little more than $100 each way to both cities.
Mark Kranenburg, Oklahoma City’s airports director, said being able to offer nonstop flights to two popular Florida cities is "a big deal.”
Currently, no airlines offer a direct flight to those cities from
Will Rogers World Airport. Orlando — home to
Disney World and other attractions — was pegged by airport officials as a top priority for adding nonstop service.
Many travelers who think of Frontier Airlines expect their flight to stop in
Denver, the airline’s hub. But the airline is branching out after being bought out of bankruptcy by Republic Airways and is building on the recent success of additional Denver flights from Oklahoma City, said
Robert Westgate, senior director of planning and scheduling for Frontier Airlines.
"The terrific response from the community made us look twice at Oklahoma City to see what made economic sense,” he said.
An
Embraer 190 aircraft will be used on the Orlando and Tampa flights. The jet is operated by Republic Airways and features two-by-two seating, meaning there are no middle seats.
The jets are comfortable, accommodate about 100 passengers and have large windows, which make the interiors feel spacious, Kranenburg said.
For now, the Florida flights are a temporary addition to Frontier’s schedule, set to run through April 18. But both Frontier Airlines and airport officials in Oklahoma City hope there is enough demand for the flights that the service can be offered all year.
"It’s going to be a very nice service enhancement and we hope our citizens will support it because the Orlando route in particular has a good chance of staying year-round,” Kranenburg said.
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