note
Formed as Monarch Airlines in 1946 in Grand Junction Colorado by Ray M. Wilson and the owners of the Denver Post. Company won C.A.B. certificate for Denver - Salt Lake City - Albuquerque mail route. Operations commenced on November 27 1946 with a DC-3 between Denver and Durango. In 1949 Monarch acquired Challenger Airlines which operated between Denver and Salt Lake City. In April 1950 acquired Arizona Airways and changed name to Frontier Airlines on June 1st as a part of consolidation. The second "Local Service Carrier" was born. In 1959 first Convair CV-340s joined the fleet. These were later converted to turboprop CV-580s. Airlines first jet arrived in September 1966 when it took delivery of a Boeing 727 becoming first local service airline in the U.S.A. to use the type. Frontier acquired Central Airlines in October 1967. At its peak, Frontier served 94 destinations in 26 states, Mexico and Canada employing over 5,000 people. In October 1985 People Express acquired Frontier, but continued to operate it as a separate entity. Continuing losses, however, lead to shut down of all operations on August 24th 1986. Days later, company filled for bankruptcy protection. In October 1986 PEOPLExpress was acquired by Continental Air Lines. Frontier's Denver gates and ground assets were divided between Continental and United.
founded - demised (age)
1946 - August 24 1986 (40)
headquarters
8250 Smith Rd, Denver
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
