Flight Global interviewed Bryan Bedford this week at the Low Cost Airlines World Americas Conference in Miami. He had some interesting things to say about the branded operations and I've included the highlights below:
1) After a rough first quarter, the Frontier and Midwest networks "are finally pulling together."
2) Unless there is same major calamity, Frontier will post "unheard of numbers" in terms of load factor this summer. Bedford expects the Q3 load factor to be 90% or higher.
3) Yields have begun to increase on a year-over-year basis. Republic had previously reported a strong yield increase for the Western part of the network earlier this year.
4) Earlier projected network revenue synergies of $10 million from the Frontier/Midwest merger were "significantly too low."
5) Stretch seating has been a success. Bedford said "It's full. We probably could actually use more Stretch seating."
6) The first E-170 with the new Stretch seating configuration will roll out in June and the entire E-170 Frontier-branded fleet will have the product by the end of November.
7) Gogo will be available on the entire Frontier E-170 fleet by August.
8) Republic is looking at expanding the regional jet fleet (E135 and E145) and may base some planes in Denver.
The full article is available here:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-reach-90.html