Extremely low price carriers in the US are in a tricky spot. At the beginning of the pandemic, the legacy carriers bought higher at competing with extremely low price carriers, each when it comes to their routes (point-to-point leisure service), and when it comes to their product providing (extra compelling fundamental financial system choices).
These days, we’ve seen Frontier Airways more and more broaden into enterprise markets, attacking legacy carriers at their hubs. This additionally comes because the airline has overhauled its fare construction. Nonetheless, the newest enlargement from Frontier Airways is leaving me scratching my head…
Frontier Airways provides stunning transcon route
Ishrion Aviation has the news on some new routes that Frontier Airways is including as of August 13, 2024. The airline is constant to assault legacy carriers and JetBlue, with new flights from Boston (BOS) to Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), and Dallas (DFW).
Nonetheless, there’s one new route that’s actually essentially the most stunning. Frontier Airways will add a brand new every day flight between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX). The two,475-mile flight will function with the next schedule:
New York to Los Angeles departing 8:59AM arriving 11:55AM
Los Angeles to New York departing 8:58PM arriving 5:34AM (+1 day)
Simply this month, Frontier Airways has made its return to New York (JFK), because the airline has launched flights between there and San Juan (SJU). As of August, Frontier Airways may even launch flights from New York (JFK) to Las Vegas (LAS), although to me that’s much less stunning.
Take into account that JFK is partially slot managed, so it’s not clear (at the least to me) how precisely Frontier is having access to JFK. I think about the redeye lands early sufficient in order that slots aren’t a difficulty, however the departure is a special story. Take into account that slot waivers stay in impact, which is why that is all of the extra stunning.
Can anybody make sense of this new route for Frontier?
Of all of the routes an extremely low price provider may broaden into, coming into the New York to Los Angeles market must be the strangest. That is essentially the most aggressive, premium market within the nation. It’s served by American, Delta, and JetBlue, and there are roughly 30 flights per day. In the meantime United has an enormous presence within the Newark to Los Angeles market, although I’m not counting that right here.
Frontier coming in and providing a single every day flight, with a tough redeye schedule in a single path no much less, doesn’t actually do a lot to shake up the market.
Now, logically some folks could also be considering “effectively, the New York to Los Angeles market isn’t simply premium, and there are many folks simply in search of the bottom fare.” You’re completely proper. This will get again to how legacy airways are doing a superb job competing with their fundamental financial system merchandise, as a result of presently you’ll repeatedly see fundamental financial system fares of $132-142 one-way, and that is earlier than Frontier even enters the market.
How a lot can Frontier actually undercut the competitors right here? I imply, would you fairly fly JetBlue for $132 and get a superb quantity of legroom, free leisure, free Wi-Fi, free drinks and snacks, and your selection of practically 10 every day frequencies, or fly Frontier?
I’d be fascinated to know what’s occurring within the Frontier route planning division that makes them suppose this route will work. In fact I get that they analyze visitors knowledge out there, and possibly suppose “if we are able to simply get X% of passengers out there, this may succeed.” However that’s simpler mentioned than accomplished…
Or who is aware of, there’s some share of the touring public who simply go surfing and e book regardless of the most cost-effective ticket is, it doesn’t matter what, even when it doesn’t signify the very best worth, and has a horrible schedule. And perhaps Frontier can appeal to these passengers. Nevertheless it additionally doesn’t change the truth that the working prices on a flight this lengthy aren’t precisely low.
Backside line
Frontier Airways is constant to broaden into enterprise markets which might be dominated by different airways, with the newest new route being a as soon as every day flight between New York and Los Angeles. This must be the provider’s boldest new route but, given simply how aggressive and premium the promote it.
I’m curious to see how this performs out. I may see this route being minimize earlier than it even launches, or I may see the airline succeeding by simply undercutting different airways by $10. I dunno, the touring public makes some unusual buying selections.
What do you make of Frontier coming into the JFK to LAX market?
