Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)
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- For the airline founded in 1994, see Frontier Airlines.
| Image:Frontier air.gif | ||
| Frontier Airlines | ||
|---|---|---|
| IATA FL |
ICAO |
Callsign Frontier |
| Founded | 1950 | |
| Hubs | Stapleton International Airport | |
| Focus cities / secondary hubs | Salt Lake City International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Kansas City International Airport, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport | |
| Fleet size | ||
| Destinations | ||
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado | |
| Key people | Ray Wilson, Bud Maytag, Al Feldman | |
| Website: | ||
Frontier Airlines was founded by the June 1950 merger of Monarch Airlines, Challenger Airlines, and Arizona Airways, which served routes in the Great Plains and Western United States. Its logo was created in 1981 by Saul Bass. It was based at Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado, where it competed with Continental Airlines and United Airlines. Frontier further expanded its network by merging with Central Airlines in 1967.
Frontier Airlines made history when they hired Emily Howell Warner in 1973. She was the first female airline pilot hired by a U.S. commercial airline. She was awarded her captain's wings three years later.
The airline's economics declined in the 1970s, and plans to sell the airline to its employees, then to Frank Lorenzo's Texas Air group fell through. In 1985 it was acquired by People Express, but the merger pushed both companies into bankruptcy. Frontier ceased operations on August 24, 1986. Later, in 1986, People Express and Frontier Airlines were both merged into Continental Airlines, a Texas Air unit.
Another airline, also titled Frontier Airlines was founded by previous executives of this airline in 1994.
[edit] External links
- We are FLamily! a Frontier Airlines history site
