Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)
Encyclopedia
Frontier Airlines was formed from a merger of Arizona Airways
, Challenger Airlines
, and Monarch Airlines
on June 1, 1950. They established their headquarters at Stapleton Airport in Denver. However, the airline dated itself to November 27, 1946, when Monarch Airlines began service in Colorado
, Utah
, New Mexico
, and Arizona
. Frontier Airlines served cities in the Rocky Mountains
bounded by Salt Lake City to the west, Billings
to the north, Denver to the east, and Phoenix
to the south. The new airline served 40 cities in the Rocky Mountain region with 12 DC-3s
and 400 employees.
Frontier flew DC-3s
and started converting to Convair 340s and 440s in 1959. In 1964 it became the first airline to fly the Allison
turbo-prop version of the Convair 580. The CV580 was a CV340/440 equipped with GM Allison
turbo-prop
engines and seated 50 passengers, two pilots, and one flight attendant. It could have carried 53 passengers, but that would have required a second flight attendant. The aircraft had three cargo compartments: front belly, front top, and aft.
In 1955, the Maytag
family acquired controlling interest in Frontier and established L. B. Maytag as the president. The Maytag family sold their stock in March 1962 to the Goldfield Corp. Lewis W. Dymond became president of Frontier and, under his guidance, Frontier started to provide service with Boeing 727s on September 30, 1966, calling them Arrow-Jets. On October 1, 1967, Frontier purchased Central Airlines
, based out of Fort Worth and integrated it into their system. This acquisition made Frontier one of the larger and stronger regional air carriers.
Al Feldman became president in March 1971 and converted the jet fleet to Boeing 737s.
On January 29, 1973, Frontier Airlines hired their first black pilot, Bob Ashby. Ashby was the only Tuskegee Airman to become a commercial passenger airline pilot. They also hired the first female pilot for any U.S. commercial airline the same day, Emily Howell Warner. Warner was awarded her captain's wings three years later.
The final logo, a stylized "F", was created by Saul Bass
and introduced April 30, 1978. By 1979, the airline had 5,100 employees and operated 35 Boeing 737–200 and 25 Convair 580 aircraft serving 94 cities in 26 states, Canada and Mexico.
On February 1, 1980, Al Feldman, Frontier's president, left to become the CEO of Continental Airlines
. He was succeeded by Glen Ryland. Under Ryland, the airline started to decline. By 1982, employees began accepting lower wages and benefits in an effort to keep the business viable. Ryland resigned November 6, 1984, and was replaced by Hank Lund, the well-known vice president. Joe O'Gorman, from United Airlines
, took over in May 1985, giving rise to speculations that United would buy Frontier.
The employees' union coalition struggled to save the airline but failed. People Express bought Frontier on October 5, 1985, and put Larry Martin in charge after Joe O'Gorman resigned January 29, 1986. People Express continued operating Frontier as an independent entity. On August 24, 1986, Frontier shut down due to continued losses and four days later filed for bankruptcy.
On October 24, 1986, Continental Airlines
, a Texas Air
unit, bought both People Express and Frontier Airlines. They were merged into Continental on February 1, 1987, along with New York Air
and Continental Airlines’ other subsidiaries. Frontier's failure doomed People Express, New York Air, and four commuter carriers
. It would take years to settle the pension disputes and lawsuits. Efforts were still being made in 2009 to settle ESOP accounts.
Frontier's last published timetable was dated September 3, 1986. It never went into effect because the airline halted operations and filed bankruptcy the week before.
Some bankruptcy proceedings ended on May 31, 1990, exactly forty years after Frontier was formed, but the Chapter 11 case was officially closed July 22, 1998, by Charles E. Matheson, Chief Judge
M. C. "Hank" Lund and other former Frontier executives started a new airline, also named Frontier Airlines, which began operations July 5, 1994.
Arizona Airways
Rocky Nelson, an Arizona entrepreneur, formed Arizona Airways in 1942, using Douglas DC-3 aircraft to fly passengers from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, to other, nearby destinations, including Prescott Municipal Airport in Prescott, Arizona, Tucson International Airport.Arizona...
, Challenger Airlines
Challenger Airlines
Challenger Airlines was incorporated in Wyoming, December 31, 1941, by Charles W. Hirsig II, as Summit Airways Inc., a non-scheduled carrier.In 1944, Hirsig filed an application with the Civil Aeronautics Board Docket No. 1091, for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to engage in air...
, and Monarch Airlines
Monarch Airlines (1946-1950)
Monarch Airlines, based in Denver, Colorado, started scheduled air service on November 27, 1946 with a flight from Denver to Durango, Colorado using a Douglas DC-3. It was formed by F.W. Bonfils of The Denver Post family and Ray M. Wilson, who operated a Denver flying school...
on June 1, 1950. They established their headquarters at Stapleton Airport in Denver. However, the airline dated itself to November 27, 1946, when Monarch Airlines began service in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. Frontier Airlines served cities in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
bounded by Salt Lake City to the west, Billings
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
to the north, Denver to the east, and Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
to the south. The new airline served 40 cities in the Rocky Mountain region with 12 DC-3s
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
and 400 employees.
Frontier flew DC-3s
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
and started converting to Convair 340s and 440s in 1959. In 1964 it became the first airline to fly the Allison
Allison Engine Company
The Allison Engine Company was a U.S. aircraft engine manufacturer. In 1929, shortly after the death of James Allison, the company was purchased by the Fisher brothers. Fisher sold the company to General Motors, who owned it for most of its history...
turbo-prop version of the Convair 580. The CV580 was a CV340/440 equipped with GM Allison
Allison Engine Company
The Allison Engine Company was a U.S. aircraft engine manufacturer. In 1929, shortly after the death of James Allison, the company was purchased by the Fisher brothers. Fisher sold the company to General Motors, who owned it for most of its history...
turbo-prop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
engines and seated 50 passengers, two pilots, and one flight attendant. It could have carried 53 passengers, but that would have required a second flight attendant. The aircraft had three cargo compartments: front belly, front top, and aft.
In 1955, the Maytag
Maytag
Maytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa, that is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation.-Company history:...
family acquired controlling interest in Frontier and established L. B. Maytag as the president. The Maytag family sold their stock in March 1962 to the Goldfield Corp. Lewis W. Dymond became president of Frontier and, under his guidance, Frontier started to provide service with Boeing 727s on September 30, 1966, calling them Arrow-Jets. On October 1, 1967, Frontier purchased Central Airlines
Central Airlines
Central Airlines was a regional airline providing service in Texas and Oklahoma from 1949 to 1967. Central was founded by Keith Kahle in 1944 to operate charter and fixed base services in Oklahoma. Due to financing difficulties, it did not begin scheduled air service until September 15, 1949, just...
, based out of Fort Worth and integrated it into their system. This acquisition made Frontier one of the larger and stronger regional air carriers.
Al Feldman became president in March 1971 and converted the jet fleet to Boeing 737s.
On January 29, 1973, Frontier Airlines hired their first black pilot, Bob Ashby. Ashby was the only Tuskegee Airman to become a commercial passenger airline pilot. They also hired the first female pilot for any U.S. commercial airline the same day, Emily Howell Warner. Warner was awarded her captain's wings three years later.
The final logo, a stylized "F", was created by Saul Bass
Saul Bass
Saul Bass was a Jewish-American graphic designer and filmmaker, best known for his design of motion picture title sequences....
and introduced April 30, 1978. By 1979, the airline had 5,100 employees and operated 35 Boeing 737–200 and 25 Convair 580 aircraft serving 94 cities in 26 states, Canada and Mexico.
On February 1, 1980, Al Feldman, Frontier's president, left to become the CEO of Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
. He was succeeded by Glen Ryland. Under Ryland, the airline started to decline. By 1982, employees began accepting lower wages and benefits in an effort to keep the business viable. Ryland resigned November 6, 1984, and was replaced by Hank Lund, the well-known vice president. Joe O'Gorman, from United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
, took over in May 1985, giving rise to speculations that United would buy Frontier.
The employees' union coalition struggled to save the airline but failed. People Express bought Frontier on October 5, 1985, and put Larry Martin in charge after Joe O'Gorman resigned January 29, 1986. People Express continued operating Frontier as an independent entity. On August 24, 1986, Frontier shut down due to continued losses and four days later filed for bankruptcy.
On October 24, 1986, Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
, a Texas Air
Texas Air
Texas Air was an airline holding company incorporated in 1980 in the United States created to hold and invest in airlines, starting with Texas International Airlines as its core...
unit, bought both People Express and Frontier Airlines. They were merged into Continental on February 1, 1987, along with New York Air
New York Air
New York Air was a 1980s startup airline owned by Texas Air Corporation and based at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York City.-History:...
and Continental Airlines’ other subsidiaries. Frontier's failure doomed People Express, New York Air, and four commuter carriers
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
. It would take years to settle the pension disputes and lawsuits. Efforts were still being made in 2009 to settle ESOP accounts.
Frontier's last published timetable was dated September 3, 1986. It never went into effect because the airline halted operations and filed bankruptcy the week before.
Some bankruptcy proceedings ended on May 31, 1990, exactly forty years after Frontier was formed, but the Chapter 11 case was officially closed July 22, 1998, by Charles E. Matheson, Chief Judge
M. C. "Hank" Lund and other former Frontier executives started a new airline, also named Frontier Airlines, which began operations July 5, 1994.
External links
- Old Frontier Airlines a website about the history of the old Frontier Airlines and its predecessor airlines
- A Photo Website of the "original" Frontier Airlines
- http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/fl.htm has several Frontier and predecessor timetables from 1947-62, showing where they flew, how often, how long it took and how much it cost.