PressOff

Hopefully mostly local/regional people want ATL. From previous experience I learned the hard way that place is an absolute bear to commute to/from.

MCDUmanipulator

is it really growth or just reshuffling

TOGALOCK

So sadly true.

People love to throw around the “it’s not growth, it’s reshuffling” mantra, but the reality is that it would only be “reshuffling” if the airline was remaining generally stagnant. In actuality, we had a net gain in aircraft in 2020 that were never fully utilized due to covid, we will have a sizable net gain in aircraft in 2021 and a net gain in aircraft every year after that moving forward for the foreseeable future. I also really don’t think that we’ve seen the last of the new aircraft orders - Especially with so many orders cancelled this past year by other airlines around the world. I’m sure Airbus will be trying to make up for those cancelled orders and be willing to be generous on their bulk discount pricing. Additionally, we just awarded 30 upgrades and I’m hearing another vacancy will soon be published for another 30+ upgrades for an April training date with more upgrades continuing beyond that. Flight attendant new hire classes are starting next month and the company is about to commence pilot interviews. As of now it’s for a July class date, but I would not be shocked to see classes start before then.

This all isn’t to say that there won’t be a small amount of reshuffling in the short term to help get the bases going, just as there always has been every...single...time we’ve opened a new base; but, most people, with even a little bit of seniority, will be able to quickly get back to where they want to be (except maybe DEN... the questions are still out on that one). Between new upgrades, new hires and people who live locally in, or close to, the new bases, I’m sure that TPA and ATL will be able to be staffed with minimal, if any, long term shuffling effects.

Aero1900

Well, if I lived in Tampa, I would bid Tampa and not drive I4 to Orlando. Every trip.

Also, I think that the Gulf coast is more appealing to people than Orlando. Especially older guys who's wives want to move to FL. Thus, I suspect the TPA base will shake up the list more than some of the other new domiciles have.

turbojet28

This, plus ATL may be a much more commutable option for lots of pilots scattered around at other bases. I mean, sure, we all hoped for PHX to be next, but I agree that TPA will at least cause some movement. Overall, I’m just proceeding with continued cautious optimism and grateful this company seems to be taking an aggressive stance by going forward with growth plans. After the past 12 months, it’s almost hard to believe the good news.

BaseballFlyer7

I think PHX is still a foregone conclusion. Maybe just not the time table everyone thought. TPA makes sense for mx etc but ATLANTA? Good luck with that one.

Margaritaville

Maybe they think punching Delta (and Spirit and SWA) in the nose in ATL could trigger a buyout of Frontier?

EAFF95

The last thing Frontier wants to do is sell now. It's privately held and I'm sure the investors are looking to reap what they sowed in the long term.

If they wanted to sell the company they would have gone through with the IPO prior to covid tanking all the airline values by half.

We have been flying heavily out of TPA and ATL. They're listed as focus cities. This should surprise nobody.

Also TPA is our MRO.

WaterRooster

I think if you have the option to get hard gates in ATL, you take them. Bottom line.

madmax757

Last time when the rumor of Atlanta base got out, Delta leased all the gates. What prevents them or even SWA from doing this again.