After ordering 10 Bombarder (BBD) Q-400s and planneing to expand its regional jet fleet, Frontier Airlines (FRNT) issued a request for proposal to communities within a radius of 1,200 miles from its Denver hub seeking regional jet and/or turboprop service. (RAN, September 18, p.1) The unusual marketing move, is, the airline said, the critical next step as the airline solidifies growth plans which call for as many as 20 70-seat aircraft. The airline, known as Lynx Aviation dba FrontierExpress, expects service entry in July/August 2007.

Frontier, which is investing between $25 million and $28 million in start-up costs, has already targeted several new markets for its new service, it sent its RFP to over 50 communities to "provide all potentially viable communities with an opportunity to outline their need for and plans to support the introduction" of Frontier service. "This will help us determine the level of interest and commitment from these as well as other communities," said Vice President of Marketing and Planning John Happ.