Frontier Airlines has its Last Flight From Santa Barbara

Frontier Airlines has flown away from Santa Barbara, and any plans to possibly return for the summer are off, according to airport officials.

Frontier was a lower cost air carrier and served the Denver market, but the company has made a change in its business plan, according to Santa Barbara Airport Director Hazel Johns.

She said the air carrier has also cut similar service to Bakersfield, Fresno and Palm Springs.

United Airlines still flies the Denver route and has been with the Santa Barbara Airport since 1936. Johns met personally with United officials and says larger planes may be used here, and expanded service is possible in the summer.

“I guess what it means to me is that it will cost more because of less competition,” said passenger Kevin North. He says the flights on Frontier were about $150. cheaper. North and other passengers said they may also look at the price to fly out of Los Angeles in the future.

The airport says its routes to Portland and Seattle on Alaska are doing very well with big passenger loads on a regular basis. They are hoping for an increase in service this summer to those destinations.

Johns flew to Chicago in November for a personal meeting with United officials and hopes to have more jet service to San Francisco, especially for the business travelers who have requested it.

Of the three major carriers, United, American and Delta, Santa Barbara has two of the three flying on a regular basis.

The changes with Frontier were announced late last year, and passengers on today’s flight were told over the loud speakers as they arrived in Santa Barbara.