Frontier Airlines To Open Crew Base In San Juan, Puerto Rico

Frontier Airlines, the U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), is set to open a new crew base at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in June. This development marks a significant expansion of Frontier’s operations in the region, strengthening its commitment to Puerto Rico.

The airline, already operating 14 nonstop routes from SJU, anticipates basing up to 90 pilots and 200 flight attendants at the airport within the first year. This move underscores Frontier’s rapid growth on the island, having more than doubled its capacity since 2019. Beyond SJU, Frontier also connects Ponce and Aguadilla in Puerto Rico with Orlando, Florida.

Frontier’s CEO, Barry Biffle, highlights the positive economic impact of the new base, emphasizing job creation for Puerto Ricans and smoother flight operations. He points out the benefits for customers, including access to a wide variety of destinations and improved service to underserved markets as the airline continues to expand in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi welcomes this development, seeing it as a significant boost for the island’s tourism industry and economy. Carlos Mercado Santiago, the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, also notes the strategic importance of the crew base in positioning Puerto Rico as a key Caribbean hub and an attractive destination for domestic and international investments.

In 2023, SJU handled 12.2 million passengers, a notable increase of 18.3% over 2022. Frontier’s routes from SJU include four Florida destinations: Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.

San Juan’s crew base will be Frontier’s 13th when it opens in June. Additionally, the airline is planning to open a crew base at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in May, with the aim of basing 80 pilots and 160 flight attendants there by May 2025. Furthermore, Frontier is set to reopen a crew base in Chicago, serving both Midway and O’Hare airports, which closed in April 2022. By May 2025, the airline expects to employ 110 pilots at the Chicago base.