Locals of Spokane, Washington, have spoken up about Frontier Airlines’ quiet decision to axe flights with allegedly no notice. One person who spoke directly to Simple Flying on Wednesday claimed that the airline “quietly shut its doors without notice to passengers.” They also alleged that employees were given only 48 hours’ notice to dismantle the ticket counters, remove kiosks, and remove any terminal signage.
Frontier is one of the largest budget airlines in the US, known for its no-frills onboard offerings and iconic aircraft with endangered animals on their tails. The ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), which announced plans to axe several flights in its network, allegedly has done so at Spokane with little notice.
A Spokane Local’s Account of Its Exit From The Airport
The individual noted that Frontier corporate came to the airport on Friday to dismantle any remaining evidence of the airline’s presence at Spokane International Airport (GEG). It comes as a double blow, following Spirit Airlines’ demise and exit from the airport. Frontier flight 3357 arrived at 11:36 AM and departed shortly after at 12:31 PM on Wednesday, allegedly marking the final flight to the airport. Employees or customers reportedly had no idea this was the last flight.
It is believed that Frontier was the only airline to offer its own wheelchair assistance at the airport, setting the carrier apart from others. The locals believe that Spokane is in need of a carrier like Frontier, and that the airline’s decision to exit at the start of what is usually a busy summer season will disrupt many travel plans.
Simple Flying contacted Frontier earlier this week regarding its exit. A spokesperson said it was a “difficult decision” to end its service.
“We made the difficult decision to end our service at Spokane International Airport (GEG) based on demand and current market dynamics. We appreciate our relationship with each airport and, as with any market exit, we will continue to evaluate future opportunities to return.”
Frontier Quietly Exits From Spokane
Frontier’s decision to axe flights to Spokane will see the carrier stop flying from 
Denver International Airport (DEN) and 
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Looking at data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Frontier has struggled to maintain a significant presence at the airport, which is otherwise dominated by Southwest Airlines (22% of operations), and SkyWest Airlines, operating regional flights for American Airlines, Alaska Airlines (18% each), and Delta Air Lines (16%).
Airline | Market Share At GEG |
|---|---|
Southwest Airlines | 22.70% |
SkyWest Airlines | 18.04% |
Delta Air Lines | 16.46% |
Alaska Airlines | 16.16% |
Horizon Air | 10.92% |
The airlines’ exit from serving Denver will be left up to both Southwest and United, who serve the route, while services to Phoenix remain in operation by American and Southwest. In all, seven airlines serve Spokane to more than 20 destinations across the US. The most popular routes from GEG are to 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Denver and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
GEG is the major airport serving Spokane in the Inland Northwest of Washington state, located seven miles (11 km) from the city’s downtown core. The airport is the second busiest in the state and is home to two runways (03/21 and 08/26). Inside the terminal, there are three main structures separated into Concourse A, B, and C.
Frontier Airlines Pilots Slam Brakes On Busy LAX Taxiway: “2 Trucks Just Cut Us Off”
The near-miss has sparked concerns about vehicle transponders, following the deadly Air Canada crash last month.
Frontier Looks To Reshape Its Network
As previously reported by Simple Flying, Frontier announced last month it planned to cut several routes as the airline exited six cities and suspended up to 20 routes in the third quarter of the year. This led the airline to leave Corpus Christi, Knoxville, St. Maarten, San José, Costa Rica, Sarasota, and Spokane.
The airline, which quite clearly identified its last routes at Spokane to be July 3, appears to have taken action to axe flights a day earlier than planned. While it’s understandable for locals to be upset that the airline is removing its service to the airport, it can be common practice for a carrier to adjust schedules depending on operational loads and aircraft requirements elsewhere.
Spokane remains an attractive regional market; however, it appears that the routes served from the airport are not viable for the Denver-based airline at present. It will be interesting to see if the airline reconsiders its options next summer, and if Spokane will be willing to welcome the airline back with open arms.
