DENVER, June 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frontier Airlines announced today an aircraft order that will see its fleet size almost double over the next five years from 56 to 101 aircraft. These new aircraft will allow Frontier to grow in new markets, reduce its operating and fuel costs as well as provide operational enhancements and increased reliability. Frontier will begin taking delivery of these new aircraft in early 2016.
This new order will also help Frontier enhance its ongoing fleet renewal program that will replace older aircraft with newer, more fuel-efficient ones. Under the agreement with partner, Airbus, Frontier has placed a firm order for 10 Airbus A321 and two A320 aircraft. Currently, Frontier has 89 orders for aircraft in the A320 family bringing the total number of aircraft on order to 101.
"This announcement paves the way for us to grow, modernize and renew our fleet while helping us build a strong foundation for the future," said Barry Biffle, president - Frontier Airlines. "We remain focused on our Low Fares Done Right business model for long-term success, and we look forward to working with Airbus to achieve it."
The new aircraft will also feature Frontier's slim-line seats, the widest economy seats in the U.S. domestic airline industry. The A320s will be fitted with 186 seats, and the A321s will be fitted with 230 seats.
"With every flight of an Airbus aircraft, our customers gather feedback from their passengers and employees, and those customers become repeat customers when they realize the A320 Family optimizes every aspect an aircraft has to offer," said John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer - customers. "As we have continued to evolve the efficiency of each of our aircraft families, customers such as Frontier have been paying attention, and know that growing their Airbus fleet is the best investment in their future."
An exclusive Airbus customer, Frontier's A320 family features cabin interiors with increased overhead storage, reduced noise and ambient lighting options.
With this new order, Frontier will have one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the U.S. airline industry. All 12 aircraft will feature two CFM56-5B engines from CFM International. Each of the newly ordered aircraft will feature lightweight composite Sharklets, 94 inch tall wing-tip devices that provide a fuel consumption reduction of up to 4 percent, plus either a range extension of 100 nautical miles or increased payload of up to 992 pounds. These new aircraft will replace older-model A319s.
About Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is committed to offering 'Low Fares Done Right' to more than 60 destinations in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic on more than 270 daily flights. Headquartered in Denver, Frontier's hard-working aviation professionals pride themselves in delivering the company's signature Rocky Mountain hospitality to customers. Frontier Airlines is the proud recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration's 2014 Diamond Award for maintenance excellence and was recently named the industry's most fuel-efficient airline by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) as a result of superior technology and operational efficiencies.
For more information or to purchase a Frontier flight, visit FlyFrontier.com, where Frontier guarantees the best travel value for Frontier flights. Special offers are also available by following Frontier on Twitter at Twitter.com/FlyFrontier or by liking Frontier on Facebook at Facebook.com/FlyFrontier.