Frontier Airlines adds 10 non-stop flight destinations at Hopkins

CLEVELAND — Frontier Airlines announced Wednesday that it has added 10 nonstop service destinations from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to areas across the country, with seat upgrades starting at $19.

“Our growth in Cleveland is soaring,” said Barry Biffle, CEO, Frontier Airlines. “We’re thrilled to connect consumers in Northeast Ohio with low fares to even more destinations throughout the U.S. Our new crew base at CLE set to open in March will help support our rapidly growing operations.”

The flights start on May 17, with most running four times a week. Flights to New York run daily.

In total, Frontier Airlines has 30 different destinations available out of Cleveland.

“We at Cleveland Hopkins are incredibly pleased with the increasingly diverse mix of business and leisure destinations Frontier is adding for Northeast Ohio residents and visitors alike,” said Bryant L. Francis, C.M., director of Port Control. “Today's announcement brings Frontier to thirty nonstop destinations, more than any other airline at CLE, and includes new service to several of our top unserved markets. This expansion further solidifies Frontier's commitment to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio and we look forward to welcoming the additional service and the new opportunities it will create for travelers.”

The announcement comes as the airline prepares to open a crew base in March. During a press conference in November, Frontier said the move would bring up to 110 pilots, 250 flight attendants, and 50 aircraft maintenance personnel within its first year of operation.

READ MORE: Frontier Airlines expanding in Cleveland with ‘crew base’

“We’re growing in places that have really taken a liking to us and we’ve really taken a liking to Cleveland," said Biffle Wednesday. "So we’re really excited to be here, really excited to continue growing.”

With the addition of Frontier's 10 new non-stop destinations, the airport will offer flights to about 50 different cities.

The variety will be nearly on-par with pre-pandemic options, but it's down from a decade ago. In 2014, United Airlines shut down its Cleveland hub and the airport lost many of its non-stop flights.

READ MORE: This is why Cleveland has fewer non-stop flight options than it once did

10 new non-stop flight options are welcome additions for both business and tourism alike.

"Every time we add a direct flight to a location, that means the plane has to come back with people on it. So that gives the opportunity for people in the 10 new cities that Frontier has added to come visit Cleveland,” said Emily Lauer, the VP of public relations for Destination Cleveland.

The airport previously told News 5 that 99% of its travelers are originating in Cleveland and departing from Cleveland. But the tourism industry is hoping to capitalize on the growing number of non-stop flights.

“Direct air service is critical to tourism, as well as to our meetings and conventions business," said Lauer. “We’re a hidden gem for many people, particularly when it comes to flying. We’ve been a flyover city for many years and that is really changing. So people can come and experience what an awesome city Cleveland is.”

Currently, leisure travel is outpacing business travel at Cleveland-Hopkins. But feedback from the business community has proven influential in a push for more non-stop flights.

“We are slowly working with the airport and the airlines to work down that list and say, for the cities where there’s a lot of demand, how do we make sure we get a carrier like Frontier to recognize that demand and put a flight in to better serve Clevelanders?” said Baiju Shah, the president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership.

GCP leads an air services task force, gathering feedback about the airport’s future from some of Northeast Ohio’s top employers and business leaders. Shah said three of the newly announced non-stop Frontier flights — Austin, Salt Lake City and New Orleans — were among the destinations with the highest business demand.

“There are many other cities where we are still looking to establish direct service," he said. "Places like Kansas City come to mind, Milwaukee comes to mind, the places where we know a daily direct will be helpful to our business community."

He explained the growing number of flight options also creates a greater need for infrastructure improvements at Cleveland-Hopkins.

“That’s important as we sit here in the passenger hall today, seeing how cramped it is, compared to what it could be for our Clevelanders,” Shah said.

A $2 billion, 20-year renovation is slated to begin in 2025 as the airport marks its 100th anniversary.

City leaders are celebrating the investment from Frontier as a step in the right direction.

“In addition to the over 400 new jobs that the new crew base is creating right here in Cleveland, we have new residents moving to Cleveland, Ohio because of Frontier’s investment,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “We have a long way to go, but I’ve never been more excited about our city, our region and this great asset at Hopkins International Airport.”

Frontier announced last year that it is expanding with a new crew base in Cleveland, bringing hundreds of jobs to our area. Watch more in the player below:

RELATED: Frontier Airlines expanding in Cleveland with 'crew base,' bringing hundreds of jobs