Frontier Airlines, the ultra-low-cost carrier, made a significant announcement on Thursday, unveiling seven new routes that will enhance its presence in key cities. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Dallas-Fort Worth emerged as the big winners in this expansion plan. These new routes will not only provide travelers with more options but also present direct competition to rival legacy carriers.

Pittsburgh, in particular, secured four of the new routes, three of which will fly to major hubs of competing legacy carriers. Among the destinations is Philadelphia, where Frontier will introduce an intra-Pennsylvania route challenging American Airlines. This move comes as American Airlines operates a fortress hub in The City of Brotherly Love.

Frontier will also commence flights from Pittsburgh to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), another major hub for American Airlines, as well as Atlanta, the top hub for Delta Air Lines. It is worth noting that Southwest Airlines also offers flights from Pittsburgh to Atlanta and Dallas, though their flights are directed to Dallas Love Field (DAL).

Adding to the competition, Frontier's fourth route from Pittsburgh is to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), where they will directly rival both American Airlines and budget startup Breeze.

It is interesting to note that Frontier has previously operated two of the routes announced for Pittsburgh. Schedule data from Cirium reveals that the airline last flew between Atlanta and Pittsburgh in 2016, and it briefly flew between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in May and June of 2020 during the depths of the pandemic.

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) also celebrated Frontier Airlines' expansion, with the announcement of two new routes. In addition to the existing route to Pittsburgh, Frontier will now fly to Jacksonville, Florida, further enhancing connectivity to popular destinations.

Cleveland, on the other hand, witnessed the addition of just one new route in Frontier's announcement. However, this particular route to Montego Bay, Jamaica, is noteworthy as it will provide the Ohio airport with a new international destination. Frontier Airlines is set to be the sole carrier operating this route.

To entice travelers, Frontier Airlines is offering introductory fares on the new routes starting as low as $19 one-way. It is important to note that Frontier charges additional fees for extra services beyond the basic fare.

These new nonstop routes are set to launch on various dates, with frequencies ranging from two to four flights per week. Travelers can expect the initial flights to start as early as March 7, 2022, and extend into May of the same year.

The expansion by Frontier Airlines demonstrates the company's commitment to expanding its network and providing more options to travelers in and around Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Dallas-Fort Worth. With competitive fares and direct service to major destinations, Frontier aims to capture a larger market share in these key regions.