On Thursday, Frontier launched a swag of new routes from Chicago's Midway Airport, locking down that airport's new role as Frontier's key Chicago airport. From zero to hero, Frontier will now fly from Midway (MDW) to Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Ontario, Phoenix, Tampa, and Trenton. Later in the year, Frontier will begin flights from Midway to Philadelphia, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.

Frontier returns to Midway after a seven-year absence

The flights mark a return to Chicago's second airport after a nearly seven-year absence for Frontier and increases the number of passenger airlines serving MDW to six. The ultra-low-cost carrier will keep flying out of Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), with flights from Chicago's busiest airport still heading off to Cancun, Orlando, Punta Cana, and San Juan.

“Specifically for Midway, what we love about it is that it’s just a great fit for our business model,” said Frontier's Josh Flyr when first announcing the airline's return to the airport. "With its flexible operating environment and low-cost, that allows us to sort of leverage our low cost, and allows us to pass those low costs onto consumers in the form of low fares.”

"As the pandemic recedes, and hopefully recedes finally, and people really get back to traveling, being in Midway is going to position us really well for that surge of travel, both leisure and business, that we expect to follow the pandemic.”

Chicago Midway Airport
An aerial view of Chicago's Midway Airport. Photo: Chicago Midway Airport

Eight new Frontier routes from Midway as focus shifts from O'Hare

Frontier will join Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Air, Porter Airlines, and Volaris at the Midway gates. The airport dates back nearly a century and served as Chicago's primary airport until O'Hare opened in the 1950s. Despite the massive passenger numbers through O'Hare relegating Midway Airport to second-tier status in Chicago, Midway still gets some serious traffic. In 2019, before the pandemic disrupted flying, nearly 21 million passengers moved through the airport, the vast bulk on Southwest Airlines.

Except for Trenton (TTN), Frontier's new flights from Midway to Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL), Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW), Denver International (DEN), Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport (LAS), Ontario International (ONT), Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), and Tampa International (TPA) will fly on a daily basis. The Trenton flights will operate four times a week.

Some Frontier love for other airports with four more routes starting today

While the new flights from Midway will suit some Frontier passengers, those who prefer O'Hare may feel short-changed. Frontier's flights from O'Hare to Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas, and Denver are ending. Previously announced flights from O'Hare to Atlanta, Dallas Fort Worth, Ontario, Tampa, Trenton, Salt Lake City (SLC), and St. Louis Lambert International (STL) will not happen.

In late May, Frontier is also moving a number of its flights from Houston's George Bush International Airport (IAH) across to Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) - another Southwest Airlines stronghold. Frontier calls both airport moves "strategic" and says it positions the airline to capture strong existing demand and stimulate new traffic.

Meanwhile, Midway is not the only airport getting some love from Frontier on Thursday. The airline launched four more routes linking other airports on the same day. The airline began three times a week flights between Rhode Island's TF Green International Airport (PVD) and Denver International and four times a week flights between PVD and Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU).

Also starting on Thursday were three times a week flights between Long Island's MacArthur Airport (ISP) and RDU and twice-weekly flights between RDU and Syracuse's Hancock International Airport (SYR).