Water cannon salute for Frontier’s first flight to Green Bay
Watch two airport rescue vehicles greet Frontier Airlines’ first flight to Green Bay with water cannons. Frontier began nonstop service on May 23.
Jeff Bollier, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
ASHWAUBENON – Frontier Airlines ended its seasonal flights from Green Bay to popular destinations such as Orlando, Florida and Denver earlier than expected this year, but local airport officials expect the ultra-low-cost carrier to resume flights in 2025.
Frontier informed employees at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) a few weeks ago that seasonal service from Green Bay to Denver and Orlando will cease on August 12, about two months earlier than originally planned. It has been five years since the airline first began nonstop flights between Green Bay and Denver and has expanded its service to three additional destinations: Orlando in 2019, Tampa in 2021 and Fort Lauderdale in 2022.
The decision comes as Frontier continues to restructure its schedule and service, which included eliminating four routes from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. However, Green Bay Airport Director Marty Piette said Frontier has given the airport every indication that the suspension is part of its seasonal strategy and that nonstop flights to and from Green Bay will resume.
“They told us they want to start their seasonal route again in 2025,” Piette said. “They’ve operated seasonal nonstop routes (from Green Bay) for five years. It’s common practice to pause a seasonal route like this.”
How do seasonal routes like flights from Green Bay to Denver and Florida work?
Airlines like Frontier that focus on leisure travel know that different destinations are in higher demand at different times of the year, so they schedule flights between cities based on demand. United and Delta, on the other hand, offer daily flights year-round between Green Bay and, for example, Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Frontier’s flights to and from GRB are all seasonal routes that begin and end at different times of the year. For example, flights from Green Bay to Florida begin at the beginning of winter and end when it warms up. The Green Bay-Denver route began as a spring-fall service but was so successful that Frontier expanded it to 11 months a year in 2023.
Why do airlines change their flight schedules and routes?
Susan Levitte, marketing and communications manager for Green Bay Airport, said Frontier has changed some flight schedules, canceled some routes and added new ones, but is not the only airline with schedule changes.
She said such decisions could be made because flight volumes to a destination may exceed consumer demand, flights may not be profitable enough, there may be a shortage of equipment or general travel trends may require a change.
Levitte said GRB can only work with airlines during the changes and be ready to help when they are ready to resume operations.
“We want to continue to work with them. If they still see us as a viable option, we are willing to stay with them and make sure they are healthy when they come back next year,” Levitte said.
Confusion sparked concerned calls to Green Bay Airport
The airline’s decision, however, was misinterpreted online as a permanent suspension of flights from GRB. Piette said “misinformation” from outside sources had led to numerous calls to the airport from concerned consumers.
“Seasonal offerings often result in disruptions to flight service to our airport. The temporary suspension of Frontier service to Denver is part of the airline’s seasonal strategy,” Piette said, reiterating the expectation that service will resume in 2025. “We are aware that misinformation has been spread by outside sources and hope this will clarify any inaccurate information regarding seasonal flights.”
Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or [email protected]Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.
