FRONTIER HORIZON: United States (1983-1985). To help reverse its financial slide, Frontier Holdings, Inc., in late 1983, forms a nonunion subsidiary of Frontier Airlines (1) to operate in long-haul markets not served by the Denver-based carrier. Frontier Services General Manager M. C. “Hank” Lund is named president, with Edward Dunaway as vice president-marketing. Initial capitalization of $34 million is provided by the holding company and includes the $16 million necessary to lease a fleet of jetliners. From 40,000 applications, 280 employees are hired.
Part 401 certification is received from the CAB on January 6, 1984. On January 9, using seven Boeing 727-191s leased via its parent’s Frontier Leasco subsidiary from American Airlines, Frontier Horizon begins thrice-daily nonstop scheduled services from Denver to Chicago (ORD) and two to Washington, D. C. (IAD).
The first day of operations is only slightly marred by light snow at Denver and unionized Frontier Airlines (1) personnel conducting “informational picketing.” More seriously, Seattle-based Horizon Air goes to court to force the new entrant to change its name, claiming it is an infringement against its own title. A court agrees at the end of the month, but Frontier Horizon continues to pursue steps that will allow its retention. Among these is a referral of the question to the CAB.
Flights to New York (LGA) begin late in the month and to San Francisco on March 1.
By the end of March, Frontier Holdings and the ALPA-represented pilots of Frontier Airlines (1) contractually agree that any increase in the number of aircraft in the Frontier Horizon fleet will be subject to an ALPA agreement.
Nonstop B-727-191 frequencies are initiated in the fall from Denver to Orlando and Tampa.
Late in the year, the CAB rules upon a complaint from Horizon Air and agrees that the Denver concern’s name must be changed because it is too confusing for would-be customers of the Seattle-based Alaska Airlines sister company. The name Frontier Discovery is chosen in a public competition.
A total of 509,402 passengers are transported before this new entrant is sold for $20 million to another newly formed company, Skybus Corporation, in January 1985, effective in May. Frontier Horizon’s routes are absorbed by Frontier Airlines (1), or dropped by Skybus in its attempt to establish its own low-cost service hubbing on Atlanta’s Fulton County Airport.
FS AIR SERVICE: 6121 South Air Park Place, Anchorage, Alaska 99502, United States; Phone (907) 248-9595; Fax (907) 243-1247; Code Y7; Year Founded 1995. FSAS is established at Anchorage in 1995 to offer on-demand passenger and freight charters throughout Alaska and regularly scheduled return passenger service to Seward. CEO Floyd Saltz Jr.’s fleet includes 2 Cessna 207As and 2 Fairchild Merlins, plus 1 each Piper PA-34 Seneca, PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, and CASA C-212-200 Aviocar. Enplanements nearly reach 4,000.
In 1996, orders are placed for 13 Beech 1900Cs. Customer bookings, however, decline by 9% to 2,829. These traffic figures deflate interest in continuing scheduled customer service and the company now reverts to charter flights only.
By 2000, Sandra Saltz is president, with Scott Anderson as director of operations. A total of 30 full-time and 3 part-time pilots are employed to operate the fleet, which now includes 2 each Navajo Chieftains, Beech 18s, and Metros, plus 1 each Swearingen Metro, Beech Turbo 18, Learjet 35A Century III, and the Aviocar. The latter is employed on cargo service.
World History
