Frontier Wants to Use Fewer Jet Bridges

Frontier will continue to move away from jet bridges, CEO Barry Biffle recently said. Instead, the airline is pivoting to ground loading facilities, similar to other low-cost carriers.

This transition has already started at Frontier’s Denver hub. The airport finished a $220 million expansion of Concourse A last year, which includes 14 new aircraft positions that will be used by the carrier.

“ We’ve done this before in other cities, but now we’re starting to do it at scale,” Biffle shared during an investors conference on Wednesday. “So one of the things that we’re going to do over the next few years is … to try to get as close to a hundred percent ground loading as possible.”

He noted the operations of other low-cost airlines, particularly in Europe, that largely don’t use jet bridges, including Wizz Air and Ryanair. Allegiant also utilizes ground boarding at many of its key bases.

People queuing while boarding a Ryanair aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock)

“ A jet bridge is just the kiss of death when you’re trying to turn an airplane really fast. If you have front and rear boarding, you literally double the speed that people get on and off the planes,” he continued.

Frontier utilizes ground loading facilities at a handful of airports, including in Austin, Texas, where it shares a terminal with Allegiant. The ultra-low-cost carrier recently added several new routes from the Texas capital.

Biffle called the ongoing transition away from jet bridges a “huge cost savings opportunity” as the airline looks to increase aircraft utilization on peak days.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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