Frontier Launches D/FW Flight to Mexico

By Trebor Banstetter, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Jun. 8–Passengers flying from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Mazatlan were greeted with a Mexican buffet, drinks and a mariachi band Thursday as Frontier Airlines launched its first flight from North Texas to Mexico.

Frontier, a low-fare carrier based in Denver, is the first airline to fly nonstop from D/FW to Mazatlan, a resort city on the Pacific coast. It’s a coveted route for the airport, which has worked to bring in more low-fare and international service.

“The fare was good, so I went ahead and booked it,” said Jose Medina of Frisco, who was going to Mazatlan for a two-week vacation. He said he usually flies American or Southwest, but “if the service is good, I’ll fly Frontier again.”

Cliff Van Leuven, Frontier’s vice president of customer service, said early customer response has been strong for the route, which will fly three days a week. This Saturday’s flight is sold out, he said. The airline offered introductory round-trip fares as low as $178.

Enrique Hubbard-Urrea, the Mexican consul general based in Dallas, said Mazatlan is a natural city to connect to North Texas.

“It’s a leisure market and a business market,” he said. Mazatlan is also his hometown, he said, “So personally it’s a wonderful development.”

Van Leuven said Frontier executives were surprised that no other carriers were flying the route. Frontier has been expanding into Mexico during the past several years, primarily from its hub in Denver.

He acknowledged that Frontier’s entry into the market may spur other carriers, like American, to jump into the fray.

“We’re confident we can withstand any competitive challenge,” he said.

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Trebor Banstetter, 817-390-7064 tbanstetter@star-telegram.com

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