Frontier Airlines and its network challenges: starting and leaving routes as US ULCC dynamics shift

US ULCC Frontier continues to make numerous changes to its network. In early 2016 it unveiled a network blitz, tabling 42 new routes that start in Apr-2016 and continue through Jun-2016, including a return to the smaller market of Colorado Springs. It also joined Allegiant Air in injecting some ULCC competition into Pittsburgh, and it continued expansion from Orlando International airport.

At the same time Frontier has opted to reduce its footprint in Atlanta after joining fellow ULCC Spirit Airlines in making a push from the airport in 2015. Atlanta is a market dominated by two of the large US network airlines - Delta and Southwest. It is not clear whether that has bearing on Frontier's evaluation of its strategy in Atlanta but Orlando is largely an O&D market, which could be better suited for Frontier's ULCC operations.

The only conclusion that can be drawn from many of Frontier's network moves is that no distinctive pattern emerges. There are major competitors in every market that it is leaving, but that is also the case for the remaining routes the airline is serving from Atlanta. Despite the shifts by Frontier, a small ULCC presence remains in one of the world's busiest airports.