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Frontier Aims for Flights to Costa Rica
Frontier Airlines has applied for federal authority to fly to Costa Rica, joining Spirit and First Choice in the race to add Costa Rica to their destinations

The Denver-based carrier has asked for an exemption from the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow it to fly between points in the United States and various points in Costa Rica "and beyond."

Frontier asked for permission to operate scheduled and charter flights, and said it would use its 132-seat Airbus A319 airplanes. No airline currently flies nonstop between Denver International Airport and Costa Rica.

Frontier chief executive Jeff Potter has expressed interest in flying to Costa Rica, where the primary the Juan Santamaría (San Jose) International airport, as well as international destinations such as Jamaica.

"Costa Rica is a popular destination, and we've had great success in Mexico, so this would kind of just be the next logical step here," Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said.

Frontier said its entry into the U.S.-Costa Rica market would expand options for travelers and stimulate more leisure travel.

Frontier earlier this year applied for blanket authority to fly to any country that has an open-skies agreement with the United States, including Costa Rica.

Frontier Obtains U.S. Approval For Flights to Costa Rica
Reports are that Frontier Airline has received approval to fly to Costa Rica from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Denver-based carrier had asked for permission to fly between points in the United States and various points in Costa Rica "and beyond," with plans to use its 132-seat Airbus A319 airplanes.

No airline currently flies nonstop between Denver International Airport and Costa Rica, where the primary airport is the Juan Santamaría International in San José.

Frontier gets U.S. approval to open an air route from Denver to Juan Santamaría
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Denver, Colorado,-based Frontier Airlines has received final approval for a new service between Denver International Airport and San José, Costa Rica, from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the airline said Tuesday.

The direct flights, which start Friday, Nov. 30, will be aboard Frontier's new fleet of Airbus A319s. Frontier is offering special introductory fares for as low as $596 roundtrip. Fares must be purchased by 9:59 p.m. June 26 for travel between Nov. 30 and June 16, 2008. The fare stated by the company does not include a number of fees and taxes.

Frontier will be the only airline to fly directly between Costa Rica and Denver. Costa Rica is Frontier's third country served outside of the United States and 11th non-U.S. city total, with eight cities served in Mexico and two in Canada. Most recently, Frontier began flying to Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada and Guadalajara, Mexico. On June 6 Frontier will begin flying directly from Dallas to Mazatlan, Mexico, which the airline already serves via Denver. Frontier's new Costa Rica service is the Denver- based carrier's furthest expansion south to date.
"Travelers' response to Frontier's international service has been tremendous, and we're thrilled to offer direct flights between Denver and Costa Rica, our third country served from the United States," said John Happ, senior vice president of marketing and planning for Frontier Airlines.

"Passengers now have a convenient, comfortable way to enjoy Costa Rica's culture, visit the country's amazing beaches, resorts and rain forests, and experience some of the best eco-tourism opportunities in the world."

Frontier plans to have flights Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. A plane will leave Denver 10 minutes after midnight and arrive at Juan Santamaría airport at 6:45 a.m. said the company's timetable. A return flight leaves Juan Santamaría at 7:30 a.m. and arrives in Denver at 12:15 p.m. The difference in flight duration is because Denver is an hour earlier than San José when the United States is not on daylight savings time.

In other airline news, the board of directors of Costa Rica's Aviación Civil has authorized Spirit Air to establish a new route from Los Angeles, California, to Juan Santamaría airport. The firm said it would fly the route several times a week starting in the second half of 2007.