Frontier CEO Defends ULCC Model as ‘Alive and Well’

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle has pushed back against claims that the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) model has failed in the United States, saying cost advantages for budget airlines are actually widening. Speaking at a travel conference in New York, Biffle insisted the model is “alive and well” despite recent industry turbulence and remarks from United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby questioning its viability.

Kirby recently called the ULCC approach “an interesting experiment” that had failed, citing Spirit Airlines’ second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in less than a year and moves by some no-frills carriers to introduce legacy-style perks, such as first-class seating and loyalty programs. Frontier itself plans to add premium seating options in 2026, a shift critics argue undermines the ULCC ethos.

Biffle countered that excess domestic capacity and softening yields are hurting all US carriers, not just low-cost operators. “It’s just absurd,” he said, adding that Frontier’s customer base is distinct from legacy carriers. “The people that fly Frontier are not people that spill from United. They are people that would have never flown United in the first place,” he told Reuters.

The comments come amid a public war of words between United and Spirit, with United ramping up service in markets served by the struggling budget airline in case of a collapse. Biffle’s defense underscores Frontier’s confidence that the ULCC model remains sustainable and competitive even as market conditions shift and rivals experiment with hybrid strategies.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com