Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle has announced the opening of its first crew base in Puerto Rico, located at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Isla Verde. The base will employ approximately 90 pilots and 200 flight attendants based in Puerto Rico, with plans to expand and ultimately employ 500 to 700 people.
Biffle stated that this move allows Frontier to serve underserved markets and provide new services to destinations that are not traditionally served. The base will serve to make Frontier the “most punctual and reliable” airline in the region, while also increasing their presence on the island.
The expansion of Frontier’s operations in Puerto Rico will have a significant impact on the island, leaving more than $80 million annually in salaries. Moreover, this base will allow Frontier to operate more easily within the Caribbean, with their objective to bridge the US territory with more stops in the United States.
Biffle also highlighted the support of the Puerto Rican government for the opening of the base and the passing of House Bill 1745, which created the Law to Facilitate the Implementation of Remote Work in Private Companies and to Encourage the Establishment of Air Operations Bases in Puerto Rico. Governor Pedro Pierluisi described the bill as “consensus legislation to continue positioning Puerto Rico as an attractive destination for investment and for the creation of more and better jobs.”
In the first 9 months of 2023, the low-cost airline posted operating income of about $2,698 million and net income of about $26 million or about 12 cents per diluted share.