Any idea what the options for the east coast base are? All of the current focus cities (CLE, CVG, IAD, & TTN)? Or is it just out of the two that are actually on the coast (IAD & TTN)?

Nobody really knows. Focus is out of CVG, CLE, IAD. But lots going on out of PHL, MIA, MCO. So it is anybody's guess really. TTN has a FA base already but doesn't work with the pilot contract.

My personal belief:

They will expand PHL and continue TTN service, then Bada-Bing, it's a PHL/TTN dual base similar to what they have with ORD/MDW. Once MDW is completely gone in April we'll be missing the ****ty dual base in Chicago, so naturally they'd want to open another somewhere else. It'll make commuting to the dual-base a nightmare of course but they won't give that a second thought.

I've long suspected either a CLE or Dulles pilot base. Now, I'm not so sure.

We are facing competition from Spirit in CLE that we didn't expect. Frontier is committed to winning that battle and being in CLE for the long term, but I think its giving them pause before they commit to a base there. Dulles is still an option for sure. Its fairy new, so I think they want a little more history before they commit to it. The route structure is changing so much, they are trying so many new routes that's its nearly impossible to pick a domicile yet. The company is trying a bunch of little focus cities: TTN, CLE, CVG, MIA, IAD. How do you pick one as the best place for a pilot base? Its a hard decision, so they just haven't made one. When management says they won't pick one until 2016, I believe it. They need a little more time to see how all these new routes and focus cities turn out. Chicago is growing for sure, supposed to double in size. I think that will take a solid 6 month to do, and then 6 months to see how it works before they commit to another base.

The Dual PHL/TTN base does seem to make sense though. I believe its about a 50 minute drive between the two airports. Dual bases are not fun, especially for a commuter, however the only plus is; the crappier the base, the shorter the upgrade time. Lots of senior DEN FOs are not going to take the PHL/TTN upgrade.

For what it's worth:
Frontier Airlines cancels service from Trenton-Mercer to 5 destinations because of lack of demand | NJ.com

Frontier Airlines cancels service from Trenton-Mercer to 5 destinations because of lack of demand

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James McEvoy | Times of Trenton By James McEvoy | Times of Trenton
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on January 05, 2015 at 1:25 PM, updated January 05, 2015 at 5:42 PM





EWING — Frontier Airlines is discontinuing flights from Trenton-Mercer Airport to five of its 18 destinations, airline officials confirmed Monday.
As of Tuesday, Frontier Airlines will discontinue service to Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Cleveland because of lack of demand, Frontier spokesman Todd Lehmacher said in an email. Service to Cleveland ended last month.
"Trenton is still a relatively new market for Frontier with not a lot of historical route data since no airline had ever attempted such an ambitious schedule out of the airport. With some cities we are still finding what works and what does not. We never like to enter a market and then discontinue service but due to the high fixed costs of operating an airline, we can only fly where service makes economic sense," Lehmacher said.
"Overall, we have been pleased with the response that our low-fare service in Trenton has received," he added.

Seasonal flights to Detroit and Minneapolis will end Tuesday and will resume April 30. Seasonal flights to Cincinnati will also end, but airline officials have not announced a resumption date.
Lemacher noted that some of the services ended were to cold weather cities with “significantly reduced” demand during the winter months and that Frontier could return service as some point though there are no specific plans at this time.
Lemacher noted that recently Frontier has increased weekly flights to Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers.
“Frontier remains committed to the Trenton market,” he said.
County Executive Brian Hughes, a vocal supporter of Frontier and the airport, expressed confidence in the airline.
“These guy knows how to run an airline. I believe they have a bright future in Trenton,” Hughes said
Lehmacher said the new service between Trenton and Chicago-O’Hare set for April 15 would proceed as planned.
The move follows the cancellation of flights from Trenton-Mercer to the Bahamas. In addition, Frontier discontinued service from Trenton to New Orleans and Columbus, Ohio, in 2013 and 2014, respectively, Lehmacher said.
Frontier's domestic nonstop destinations from Trenton-Mercer Airport also include Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina, Chicago-Midway, and Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, St. Augustine/Jacksonville, Tampa and West Palm Beach in Florida.
James McEvoy may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @byJamesMcEvoy. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.



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Frontier increasing its presence in Philadelphia

Frontier Airlines will begin daily seasonal flights on March 13 to Chicago O'Hare and Charlotte, N.C., and year-around daily service to Atlanta from Philadelphia.

The Denver-based airline, which has new owners and a new management team, is remaking itself as an ultra-low-cost carrier and is starting to focus on bigger cities.

Frontier began flights in December from Philadelphia International Airport to Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, Fla., and Cancun, Mexico.

To entice travelers, Frontier will offer a one-day fare sale on Wednesday to Chicago, Charlotte, and Atlanta. The fares will be available starting at 10 a.m. at flyfrontier.com.

U.S. Department of Transportation regulations prevent Frontier from publicizing the fares ahead of time. Based on previous introductory airfares, they could be as low as $19 to $49 one-way.

Seats and days of travel will be limited, and blackout dates will apply.

Frontier has been expanding in large airports, such as Philadelphia, and cutting back in smaller markets, such as New Castle Airport in Delaware.

Frontier has trimmed some unprofitable routes at Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing Township, but added flights this winter from Trenton to several Florida cities.
Frontier has three aircraft based in Trenton - the same as last summer - but has trimmed nonstop destinations St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Columbus, Ohio, Cincinnati, and Nashville, locations that did not meet expectations.

"We've learned more about how the Trenton market performs," said Daniel Shurz, Frontier senior vice president. "More Florida in the winter when people want to escape the winter weather, and more non-Florida flying in the summer when the weather is better for those trips."

Trenton flights to Detroit and Minneapolis will return in April, and Frontier will begin flying to Chicago O'Hare from Trenton in April, with the goal of building Chicago traffic and creating more connecting opportunities for customers, Shurz said.
"We've seen a good response in the Philadelphia region to our low-fare product," Shurz said. "Philadelphia airport has a very strong, successful hub carrier," referring to US Airways-American.

"What it doesn't have is much in the way of low fares. We see an opportunity to be in Philadelphia International as well," he said.

Frontier now flies nonstop from Trenton to 10 cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago-Midway, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, St. Augustine, Tampa, and West Palm Beach, Fla.

Frontier announced it will suspend service to Orlando and Tampa from New Castle Airport in April and will fly to at least one Florida destination from Delaware in late 2015.

"Our commitment to Trenton remains firm," Shurz said. The airport is in a heavily populated metro area that includes New York, Newark and Philadelphia.

"In Trenton, we see customers coming from all directions, but a bit more traffic from the New Jersey side of the airport," Shurz said. "The fares at Newark are even higher than they are at Philadelphia International."

"A lot of customers have been priced out of the opportunity to fly," Shurz said. "We see this great opportunity, as we've been able to do in Trenton, to give more customers the opportunity to take the trips they want to take, to take their family on vacation, to go see friends and family."


Read more at Frontier increasing its presence in Philadelphia

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October

The 12/15 class was awarded domiciles today. All but 4 are headed to DEN.

Is this mostly due to backfilling Denver? Any word on when the Chicago expansion will gear up?

Yes, all backfill. CHI did grow this bid and next bid will be for 14 additional crews in CHI.