Less than a month away from their regional Lynx Service launch Frontier Airlines (FRNT) is still awaiting FAA approval for the subsidiary to operate.
The process to approve the new Q400 is a long one. FAA officials said the process is ongoing, adding it could take longer than a month. The FAA has to approve the operation of the Q400 long with their manuals and books.
But Frontier is not going to push back service dates to their opening cities. They have a back up plan that includes using Horizon Air and Republic Airlines if the certification process is not complete. This would lower their profits on these routes but would come with some added benefits, including breaking in ground crews at these new airports.
Frontier still plans on an Oct. 1 launch with flights to Billings, Mont., and Wichita, Kan., and adding Sioux City, Iowa, and Rapid City, S.D., on Oct. 5. Various other cities will come online for Lynx including Albuquerque in late October and Aspen and Vail in the winter months.
Rocky Mountain News
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