Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines is coming to Burbank, with a trio of new routes that will challenge existing carriers (including American, Avelo, Southwest, Spirit and United Airlines).
Frontier Airlines Adds Three Burbank Routes
Frontier will add three new routes from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), including:
- Denver (DEN)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Phoenix (PHX)
Fares will start at $19/one-way and daily service to all there cities begins on July 15, 2021.
The $19 one-way fares are likely not coincidental. Avelo Airlines launched service from Burbank in April with $19 one-way fares and offers a similar business model, though it pledges to be “friendlier” and maintain lower ancillary fees.
Avelo and Frontier will both serve the Phoenix area, though Frontier will serve Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport while Avelo serves Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA).
Growing Competition At Burbank Will Benefit Passengers
It is not just Avelo that Frontier is challenging at Burbank. Its three new routes also represent an attack on American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines.
Southwest and United serve Denver, Southwest and American serve Phoenix, and Southwest and Spirit Airlines serve Las Vegas.
Already, American Airlines has upgraded its Phoenix service from regional to mainline in response to Avelo and Alaska Airlines has added Burbank – Santa Rosa service to also match Avelo.
While it’s too early to gauge consumer appetite for travel to/from Burbank this summer, the one clear winner from Frontier’s announcement will be consumers.
Low fares will persist despite surging demand and I’d expect other carriers, particularly United, to ramp up service. Already, United is only operating regional jets to Denver, sometimes single-cabin jets, while Southwest uses mainline. United has also suspended its San Francisco (SFO) service, essentially ceding it to Southwest. I expect such service to resume with increased frequencies.
CONCLUSION
Frontier’s addition of new service to Burbank marks a continuing trend of growth for BUR and great news for consumers, even those who do not fly Frontier. Expect continued growth and great fare sales from the most convenient airport in Los Angeles.
“Low fares will persist despite surging demand and I’d expect other carriers, particularly United, to ramp up service.”
:knocks on wood:
I know that United focuses on its international traffic, but I have been hoping for a (long) while that United would expand domestically Out West.
I hope UA brings back SFO soon – that was the best flight from that airport.
Frontier always brings in the lower quality passengers who (like those on Spirit) always get into brawls over trivial matters. I would avoid that Vegas flight like the plague. People with their stimulus checks in hand.