US carrier Frontier Airlines
is expanding to its second airport in Colorado. The airline’s first flights into Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport landed yesterday, carrying passengers from Texas and the carrier’s nearby hub in Denver. Flights to California begin this weekend.
Frontier expands to Eagle
Frontier’s presence at Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) was first announced in October. The carrier began this week with the launch of thrice-weekly services from its hub in Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
(DFW), both of which landed yesterday. A weekly service to San Francisco International Airport
(SFO) starts this weekend on Saturday, December 21st.
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The airport is located 150 miles west of Denver International Airport
(DEN), and 70 miles from Aspen. It serves the Roaring Fork Valleys, home to world-famous ski destinations, including Vail, Beaver Creek, and Aspen. In a statement, Josh Flyr, Vice President of Network and Operations Design at Frontier Airlines, noted there has been an increase in demand for flights further into the Rockies:
“There is strong demand across the country for ultra-low fare travel to the Rockies, and we are thrilled to debut at EGE just in time for the peak ski and snowboard season.
“Our affordable and convenient service will connect budget-savvy travelers in Colorado, Texas, California, and beyond with the stunning beauty and countless recreation opportunities offered by the Vail and Roaring Fork Valleys year-round.”
All three routes are operated by Frontier’s Airbus A320neo family of aircraft.
When are the Frontier flights to Eagle County?
Flights to nearby Denver International Airport will operate three times a week (up from the originally announced twice-weekly service) and take around an hour, compared to a drive of two and a half to three hours. The flights will run on Monday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. Frontier is up against fellow Denver titan 
United Airlines
on the route, with the latter carrier operating four daily Embraer E175 flights.
Frontier Airlines goes head-to-head with home carrier 
American Airlines
on the route to Dallas/Fort Worth. The oneworld Alliance carrier operates an Airbus A319 on the route twice daily. Frontier will operate its flights on Monday, Friday, and Saturday in the early afternoons. In a statement, Jennifer de la Cruz, the Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Frontier Airlines, noted how excited the airline is to connect Vail/Eagle to two new states:
“Frontier is thrilled to connect consumers in Colorado, Texas, California, and beyond with the incredible beauty, world class skiing, and endless recreational opportunities this area of Colorado is famous for.
“There is strong demand for affordable air service from these major metropolitan areas to the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, and we look forward to providing consumers with our ultra-low fare flight options while supporting the Colorado tourism industry.”
Photo: Don Mammoser | Shutterstock
The final route to begin will be a weekly route to San Francisco. The Saturday flights take around two hours and 40 minutes, departing SFO at 06:00 and returning before lunchtime. They face direct competition from United Airlines, which has a daily Embraer E175 flight.
Frontier Airlines will be the fourth scheduled airline at Eagle County, joining American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and a host of private and charter operations. David Reid, Director of Aviation at EGE, highlighted how excited the local community is for the new route:
“The day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived- Frontier Airlines now calls EGE home.”
“This exciting new service brings more travel options, competitive fares, and just in time for the holidays, it offers our community even more reasons to fly their hometown airport.”
Photo: Ceri Breeze | Shutterstock
The airport will welcome its fifth commercial carrier later this month when Alaska Airlines lands with routes to Seattle and San Diego on Friday, December 20th. Both links will operate on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through March 16th, 2025.