Frontier Airlines to pull out of Dayton

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - UPDATE: Frontier Airlines is ending service out of Dayton at the end of May, 2013, but Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Phil Parker says "never say never."

The carrier will leave the market on May 31, according to an article first published by The Dayton Business Journal Jan. 11.

Frontier did not comment, but airport officials said they were told the decision was made because of the entry of  Southwest Airlines into the market. Southwest began flying out of Dayton last summer.

Frontier was the sixth-busiest airline at the Dayton International Airport.

Delta is the busiest airline flying out of Dayton.

Terry Slaybaugh oversees airport operations.  He's hopeful the 14 Frontier employees now in place will be given opportunities with other carriers locally where there is growth.

"This is, you know, one of those decisions that we don't necessarily agree with because Frontier was very successful in Dayton, they are successful today, and I'm sure they'll be successful up until the day they leave the market," said The Director of Aviation for the City of Dayton.

Parker told 2 NEWS, "I've flown that flight on a number of occasions, gone out to the western market through Frontier.  They provide great service. It's been a great asset for us. I really feel bad that there wasn't the need that they needed to make sure those flights were successful."

However, Parker says, "never say never."  He sees Southwest expanding and even the possibility of Frontier returning.

Frontier pulled out of  Port Columbus International Airport less than a year ago and just this week announced a return to Columbus with service to Trenton, New Jersey.