Frontier Airlines coming to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

Abe Hardesty | Greenville News

The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport will soon be increasing its western reach.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines announced plans Tuesday to begin nonstop service to Denver, Las Vegas and Orlando beginning in September, giving the Greer airport direct access to those cities for the first time.

The discount carrier will also begin service from GSP to Tampa in the winter. Introductory fares are available starting at $34 one way, and flights for Denver, Las Vegas and Orlando can be booked online now. Tampa flights will be available to book in July, according to the airline.

Frontier will be the sixth airline to serve GSP, which celebrated its first commercial arrival in October 1962. It joins Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest and United at the GSP terminal, which was renovated in 2017.

The addition of Frontier expands the number of flights out west from GSP. Currently, the airport's direct flights only go as far as Dallas-Fort Worth.

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"Getting westbound direct flights to Denver will be great for our customers because Frontier's hub is in Denver," GSP President Dave Edwards said. "For our travelers, this opens up easy access to Denver, Las Vegas and beyond."

The nonstop flights to the four initial cities are priced starting at $34 one way as part of an introductory offer. Fares must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday for nonstop travel. Travel is valid Sept.10 through Nov. 14. Additionally, local residents can enter to win two round-trip tickets at http://bit.ly/GSPairportGiveaaway.

Flights will be offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

"You'll come to know us for our low fares," said Tyri Squyres, Frontier vice president of marketing. "We're dedicated to lowering the cost of flying."

Edwards said the discount carrier is likely to have an effect on all the ticket prices at GSP.

"An additional carrier, especially one bringing low fares, creates competition, and that helps drive down fares for other airlines," Edwards said. "At the end of the day, the consumer wins."

Frontier Airlines expanded operations to five new cities in the first six months of 2018, to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Myrtle Beach; Birmingham, Alabama; Savannah, Georgia; and Branson, Missouri.

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The airline, which merged with Midwest Airlines in 2007, serves 90 percent of the U.S. and is one of the largest discount airlines.

Frontier also serves Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

It has what many aeronautical publications have deemed one of the most modern fleets. Frontier has purchased 233 new aircraft since 2011, air from Airbus Corp., dropping the average age of its fleet to 5.7 years.

On Tuesday, Squyres said the airline has another 200 new Airbus full-size jets on order.

Follow Abe Hardesty on Twitter @abe_hardesty or email abe.hardesty@independentmail.com