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A few days ago, I wrote about the ten new destinations Frontier was adding from American’s Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) hub. Frontier will serve a total of 39 destinations with an average 44 daily departures this summer from Philadelphia. American was none too pleased with the new routes and increased frequency and aircraft type for several of these routes.
Frontier’s new flights include:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (daily; starts on May 21st)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) (3x weekly; starts on May 22nd)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) (daily; starts on May 16th)
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (3x weekly; starts on May 21st)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI) (3x weekly; starts on May 22nd)
- Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) (3x weekly; starts on May 16th)
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) (3x weekly; starts on May 16th)
- Pensacola International Airport (PNS) (3x weekly; starts on May 22nd)
- Portland International Jetport (PWM) (3x weekly; starts on May 16th)
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) (4x weekly; starts on May 22nd)
American has responded with the changes to nine of the 10 routes:
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) (adds a fifth daily flight and shifts two from regional to mainline aircraft)
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (adds a sixth daily flight)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI) (adds a fourth daily flight)
- Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) (adds a fourth daily flight and shifts one from regional to mainline aircraft)
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) (adds a fourth daily flight)
- Pensacola International Airport (PNS) (adds a second daily flight and upgauges from an Embraer E175 to an Airbus A319)
- Portland International Jetport (PWM) (adds a fourth daily flight)
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) (adds a fourth daily flight)
Anthony’s Take: It’s always funny to watch when airlines defend their hubs. Routes are added and cut once an attacker is thwarted. Travelers in Philadelphia have lots of new options.
(Image Credits: American Airlines and Frontier Airlines.)
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2 comments
American absolutely needs to get their balls busted for the way they treat certain city pairs and thanks to Frontier for being a market player to disrupt.
For example, right now, yes I know it’s winter, but if you want to fly from St. Louis to Philadelphia you get exactly one daily departure at 6:15am. So, if you want to be loyal to AA and connect through their chosen hub for flights to Europe you get to sit on your butt all day long or endure a double connection. Thanks for nothing AA.
I might book a few F9 flights just for fun, not that I expect it to make any difference. The main upside is that it should open up some lower fare buckets and award buckets for married segment pairs through PHL to EUR.
This shouldn’t be bombshell news for anyone. AA has the pockets and the planes to match F9 plane for plane and route for route at PHL. They won’t (can’t) undercut what will be a stupidly low fare by F9 but you’ll get a bag and a carryon and an assigned seat without paying an additional $300.