Frontier will add direct flights to Miami

Frontier Airlines will add nonstop service three-times a week between Bradley International Airport and Miami starting in November.

Frontier, a low-fare carrier, will launch the seasonal service on Nov. 14 and will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays until the end of its winter schedule in March. The airline started accepting bookings Tuesday, with one-way promotional fares from Bradley to Miami as low as $49 being offered through the end of the day Thursday.

“We anticipate we all add additional service,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines. “We have no immediate plans but we are pleased with the initial response.”

In recent months, Frontier — a carrier whose fares can range from around $30 to a few hundred dollars, based on current flights listed to take off from Bradley — has added nonstop service to several destinations from the Windsor Locks airport. In addition to Miami, the other cities include Denver, Orlando and Raleigh-Durham.

The service to Miami will begin as a seasonal offering because South Florida is a winter-peaking destination, Shurz said, but if enough consumers take the route, it has the potential to be offered yearlong.

American Airlines also offers direct nonstop service to Miami from Bradley.

Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said Frontier has been a “great addition” to Bradley, especially for “economy-minded folks.” He said when a customer starts to add services, like bagging fees — which range from around $30 to $60 per standard carry-on for Frontier — the price can start to climb, but it is generally a more affordable option for travelers.

Adding Miami as an available route from Bradley also fits in well with the airport’s goal of increasing service to popular business and tourist spots like Phoenix, Seattle and Austin, Texas, Dillon said.

“It’s a Florida destination, which are always popular in and of themselves,” he said. “All of our Florida locations drive a fair amount of demand, which is why you see Jacksonville at the top of our list [of routes to add]. That would really round out our menu of services in Florida.”

Airport officials confirmed Tuesday that planned service by Via Air between Bradley and Pittsburgh will not begin this summer. Via suspended all service to Pittsburgh earlier this year.