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Low fare carrier to begin service out of Syracuse

Low fare air carrier Frontier Airlines begins service out of Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport this summer.

Frontier will add two new non-stop destinations to the departure board at Hancock: Denver and Raleigh/Durham. Christina Callahan, Executive Director at Hancock Airport, says this opens up the west in particular, one of the more popular destinations for travelers out of Hancock.

“Not only the direct connection to Denver which is so important, but Denver is Frontier’s hub, and you can connect to any market they serve,” said Callahan.

Frontier is a low fare airline, and that could mean lower fares elsewhere. Frontier spokesman Rick Zeni said they set their price and then competing airlines often follow.

“Airlines and airports tend to follow the low fare carrier. So we don’t look for fare wars, we come in with a particular model and we set a price at a level we think will stimulate demand, and then competitors will do what they do,” said Zeni.

Frontier is offering some big discounts initially. $39 one-way to Chicago, $49 to Orlando, $29 to Raleigh/Durham, and $79 to Denver.

Zeni said choosing to fly out of Syracuse is part of an overall strategy to bring the Denver-based carrier East.

“Historically we’ve flown mostly out of Denver. Over the last three or four years as we’ve been buying new airplanes and we have changed our business model, we’re seeing more opportunity on the East Coast. So whether it’s Syracuse or down into Florida, we see a lot of opportunity there,” said Zeni.

Syracuse joins Buffalo as the only upstate airports Frontier flies out of.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.