FRONTIER AIRLINES LAUNCHES CAREER PILOT PROGRAM WITH GREAT LAKES AIRLINES AND SILVER AIRWAYS

DENVER, June 2, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frontier Airlines has entered into pilot hiring partnerships with both Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Great Lakes Airlines and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Silver Airways as part of the Frontier Career Pilot Program, designed to remove many of the career uncertainties that pilots face as they begin their airline careers by guaranteeing pilots entering the Career Pilot Program a first officer position with Frontier upon completion of defined experience requirements.

Frontier plans to launch the Frontier Career Pilot Program this June. "This program and our partnerships with these highly regarded and respected regional airlines will become an important element of Frontier's overall strategy to fulfill our pilot staffing needs in the future," said Jim Nides, Frontier's vice president-flight operations.

Frontier will work with its new partners by recruiting and interviewing new pilot candidates for this new program.

"Pursuing a professional pilot career is as challenging today as it has ever been," said Silver Airways Vice President of Flight Operations David Lindskoog. "Being able to offer a greater degree of certainty to a new pilot as he or she considers a pilot career is a big deal. This agreement between Silver Airways and Frontier Airlines offers that certainty and provides a great opportunity for our pilots to advance their careers."

"Great Lakes has had a long standing relationship with Frontier as many of our former pilots are now flying there. This agreement will help solidify the pilot recruitment needs for both airlines," said Douglas Voss, CEO of Great Lakes.

Frontier will help its new partners interview and recruit new pilot candidates. Once selected, the pilot needs to remain employed by the regional airline, upgrade to captain and build at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time. Once these and other conditions are met such as dependability metrics and a letter of recommendation from the partner airline, Frontier will guarantee that the pilot will transition to Frontier as a first officer.

"With forecasted retirements, it's no secret that the demand for highly qualified pilots will grow over the next several years," said JP Thibodeau, Frontier's chief pilot. "This new partnership helps address our future pilot staffing needs while providing pilots entering the workforce a certainty for their careers."

Pilots who currently fly for Great Lakes Airlines or Silver Airways also will be eligible and encouraged to participate in the Career Pilot Program. Depending on staffing needs at the regional airlines.

About Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines is committed to offering 'Low Fares Done Right' to more than 60 destinations in the United States, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Jamaica 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 2015 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. Customers can sign up at FlyFrontier.com/email-alert receive special discounts and promotions only available to Frontier's email subscribers. Special offers are also available by following Frontier on Twitter at Twitter.com/FlyFrontier or by liking Frontier on Facebook at Facebook.com/FlyFrontier.