Welcome to MDT, Frontier!

Harrisburg, PA., February 9, 2012 – Central Pennsylvania, low fares to the west will be available all summer long! 

Frontier Airlines announced this morning that they will begin new three times weekly nonstop service between Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) and Denver International Airport (DEN) on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.  The flights will be offered every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday through September 9, 2012.  The new service will be provided on 138-seat Airbus 319 aircraft – featuring available STRETCH seating with an additional 5 to 7 inches of legroom and 24 channels of DirecTV^® and three channels of hit movies at every seat.

Frontier will be the only carrier offering nonstop service on the route. Guests can make easy connections in Denver to and from a variety of destinations in the western United States, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle. Among Frontier’s unique offerings are its Classic and Classic Plus fares – available exclusively at FrontierAirlines.com – which provide customers with additional amenities, including two free checked bags, no-fee itinerary changes, no-charge or reduced fees to upgrade to STRETCH seating, and free DirecTV on Airbus flights.

Introductory fares are available at www.FrontierAirlines.com through Feb. 29 for travel through June 22, 2012. Additionally, members of Members of Frontier’s EarlyReturns frequent flyer program can earn double miles for every qualifying flight they take on the new route through June 30, 2012. Pre-registration is required. For details, visit FrontierAirlines.com/memberoffers.

“We recognize the demand for high-value airline service that exists in the Harrisburg area,” said Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s senior vice president, Commercial. “We’re excited to offer nonstop service to Denver and access to the West this summer.”

“We are very excited about this announcement as historically Denver ranks as one of our region’s 10 most popular destinations,” said Tim Edwards, MDT executive director. “Frontier Airlines arrival at Harrisburg International Airport provides the region with quality, comfortable and affordable nonstop service Denver and to 21 cities beyond.  Nonstop service to Denver has become a reality thanks to the combined efforts of regional businesses, regional tourism and convention bureaus and local, state and federal officials.  We are pleased to welcome Frontier to Central Pennsylvania.  We trust the region will enthusiastically support this new summer seasonal service to Denver.” 

“I was pleased to support Harrisburg Airport's application for a U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development Grant.  Funding has allowed the airport to attract and recruit a new low fare airline carrier to provide nonstop service from Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) to Denver International Airport (DEN).  Expanded service between HIA and DEN will provide significant economic development in both regions and will support the creation of new full and part time jobs at both HIA and DEN, said Congressman Tim Holden.

“On behalf of the region's businesses, economic development and tourism communities, we are thankful for Frontier’s partnership with our region.  Providing affordable nonstop service to Denver and cities throughout the western United States will become a great asset to not only the Harrisburg/Hershey area, but to our entire region,” stated Dauphin County Commissioners Jeff Haste, Mike Pries and George P. Hartwick, III. 

“My colleagues and I look forward to working with our partners in the tourism and convention industry to welcome new visitors from throughout the Rocky Mountains and West Coast to our region,” said Mary Smith, Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitor’s Bureau president.  “We’ll be using our regional website, www.ultimateparoadtrip.com, to invite leisure and business travelers to come and experience for themselves the dynamic destinations of Hershey, Lancaster, Gettysburg and Harrisburg.” 

Edwards explained that many individuals and organizations have participated in a series of meetings with Frontier officials over the past 12-14 months.  “Without their participation in these meetings and without their pledges to support and market this new service, today’s announcement would not have happened.”    

Edwards said those involved included:  US Congressman Tim Holden, US Senator Bob Casey, State Representative John Payne, the Dauphin County, York County and Cumberland Commissioners, the Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority, Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, the Lancaster Chamber of Business and Industry, the York Chamber of Commerce, the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Carlisle Chamber of Commerce, the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, the PA Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, the York County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau and Sabre Airline Solutions. 

Nonstop flights between Harrisburg and Denver, (May 22 to Sept. 9, 2012)

###
About Harrisburg International Airport:
Harrisburg International Airport (FAA code:  MDT) is served by seven major airlines with approximately 100 flights daily to 13 non-stop destinations.  HIA is owned by SARAA, a multi-municipal authority whose mission is to serve the region by providing high quality, efficient airports and promoting regional economic development.  SARAA was incorporated in 1997 to manage and oversee the economic development of Harrisburg International Airport and Capital City Airport.  SARAA board members are volunteer community leaders appointed by the elected officials from the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin and York, the cities of Harrisburg and York, and the townships of Fairview and Lower Swatara.  On July 29^th, 2004, SARAA acquired the Chambersburg Municipal Airport and renamed it the Franklin County Regional Airport and on August 25^th, 2006, SARAA acquired the Gettysburg Travel Center and renamed it the Gettysburg Regional Airport.  Combined these four facilities handle approximately 150,000 aircraft operations annually and have a total economic output of more than $542 million.

About Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RJET), an airline holding company that also owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America. Currently in its 18^th year of operations, Frontier employs 5,000 aviation professionals and operates from hubs at Denver International Airport, Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport and Kansas City International Airport. Frontier offers service to more than 70 destinations in the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica. For in-depth information on Frontier Airlines and to book tickets, visit FrontierAirlines.com.