Frontier Airlines to end flights from Portland Jetport

Inside of Portland International Jetport

File photo / Jim Neuger Portland International Jetport is Maine's biggest airport.

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Frontier Airlines, a Denver-based low-cost carrier that posted a second-quarter loss last month, plans to stop flying in and out of the Portland International Jetport while leaving the door open for a potential return when the time is right.

The news, earlier reported by Portland-based television station WGME, was confirmed by a spokesman for the airline without specifying a timeline for stopping service.

"We regularly review and update our routes based on demand, seasonality, and other factors, and have made the difficult decision to end our service at Portland International Jetport at this time," the spokesman said in a statement emailed to Mainebiz. "We value our partnership with PWM and will continue to evaluate a potential return in the future."

Portland International Jetport Paul Bradbury was not immediately available to comment, but a listing of destinations on the jetport's website shows five flights with Frontier to Orlando, Fla., next month and none in the months that follow.

Other airlines serving the Jetport include American Airlines, Breeze, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country Airlines and United.

Earnings and expansion plans

Frontier Airlines, founded in 1994, is owned by Frontier Group Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ULCC), which posted a greater than expected second-quarter loss and revenue that fell below the consensus forecast of analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research.

The net loss was $70 million, or 31 cents per share, compared to the Zacks consensus forecast of 28 cents.

Second-quarter revenue was 5% lower, at $929 million, which the company attributed to a disruption in April that stabilized during the quarter and from significant weather-related disruptions and extensive air traffic control ground delay programs.

"Our second quarter results were within our guidance range, overcoming significant weather and extensive air traffic control delays in late May and June," CEO Barry Biffle said at the time. "The domestic supply and demand balance is anticipated to improve sequentially over the next several months in Frontier markets."

Turning its attention to growth markets, the carrier is gearing up to launch 22 new routes later this year, increasing service across the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, the company announced last week.

As of Thursday's close on Wall Street, shares of Frontier Group Holdings have an equity value of $1.23 billion. Shares are trading 22% higher than a year ago.