Frontier Airlines is discontinuing its service at Seattle Paine Field International Airport in January 2024, just seven months after commencing operations from the Everett airport. The budget carrier introduced flights from Paine Field in June 2023, connecting travelers to Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix twice a week.
The decision to end these routes comes as a disappointment to Propeller Airports, the operator of the Seattle Paine Field Passenger Terminal. The company had anticipated that these new services would attract an additional 100,000 passengers annually to Everett. However, on Friday, Frontier announced that it would terminate its Paine Field service in early January.
A spokesperson for Frontier Airlines stated, “We periodically review and update routes based on market demand. We greatly value our partnership with Paine Field and, as with any market departure, we will continue to evaluate a potential return at some point in the future.”
The Daily Herald first reported this development, highlighting that Frontier’s exit leaves Paine Field with only one major airline. Currently, Alaska Airlines is the sole carrier operating from the airport, offering flights to various destinations in California, in addition to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Honolulu.
Located approximately 30 miles north of downtown Seattle, Paine Field promotes itself as a less crowded alternative to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Despite the loss of Frontier, Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports, expressed confidence in the airport’s future, saying, “While Frontier has made strategic changes in recent weeks, including its exit from Paine Field, demand remains strong and travelers will continue to have access to the same destinations through Alaska.”
Frontier Airlines will continue to operate flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including the Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix routes that it had previously launched from Paine Field. This shift underscores the ongoing adjustments in the airline industry as carriers adapt to changing market circumstances.
