http://frontierairlines.mediaroom.co...ases&item=1275

No good for me--no evening departures from Calgary. A lot of oil & gas types fly that route, and would want a departure between 6 and 8 PM from YYC.

The lack of evening departure is common for new route launches, it's almost always early am dep, late morning arr for a quick turnaround for afternoon dep, then night arr that parks overnight for the early am dep. I guess they're seeing YYC-DEN as the market to tap into more than DEN-YYC.

Assuming airfare is competitive to United, Frontier would expand, but they can only expand so far. Unlike United, America West, American, or even Continental (which did YYC-EWR during summer), where else can F9 fly to N/S from YYC?

Billings MT to YYC would make sense from a Gas/Oil Industry Standpoint and it's a super short flight

I can't wait till this flight goes out, I hope its succesful and I am booking my flight once this thing goes under 300 from MCI to YYC
So Many things to do
-Hockey at Saddledome
-Skiing in Banff
-Calgary Stampede

I wonder exactly how much a BIL-YYC would generate. BIL is definately a growth point for Oil/Gas type routes but will it generate enough perminant traffic to sustain the international route. You also have to remember that BIL is no longer an international airport (Lost customs status sometime around 2001). BIL would be a draw for some of the YYC'rs due to a lack of sales taxes and medical traffic. (BIL to YYC for drugs, YYC to BIL for surgery and other procedures). The problem is that this route can't be serviced with a turboprop like Big Scare (Big Sky) or Great Heavens (Great Lakes) Airlines. People in DEN and YYC are skeptical about existing route and throwing BIL in the mix would make it worse.

You mean in BIL has been lost customs & Immigrations status around 2001? I don't quite understand what happen to them after 9/11. Does status will change back to normal business go to through customs & Immigrations during international flight from Canada. It doesn't get worse for pax get on the flight to Canada. It is during the flight to/from Canada must go to customs in BIL.

That was my memory that in 2001 or 2002 BIL lost it's international status. It does not have international status now so when it was lost is irrelevant at this point (BIL now listed as municipal). The loss of customs standing means that no international flights can land intentionally at BIL without landing at another US airport first. This obviously excludes the incoming emergency landing at BIL but pax might not be allowed to de-plane as they cannot offically clear customs at BIL. The friendly skies agreement may state that passengers may file customs forms ect. on the plane and not go through the formal customs line of passports, ect. However, customs officials must be present at the airport for any special cases that may arise from the international flight (firearms declaration or others).

I am a bit confused as your last sentence noted having to land in BIL to go through customs. A YYC-DEN would not land have to land in BIL even if BIL was international as DEN is an international airport. The Customs process officially occurs at the landing point, not upon entering the airspace. Think about the hassles of flying to FRA if this were the case having to file Irish, French and German custom forms prior to EU even though you never landed in Ireland or France.

Uh, you clear US homeland security in YYC (yes, IN Canada) and you obviously clear Canada Customs in YYC.

That doesn't matter the airport you are going to still has to have customs facilities. A few years back AS wanted to go from YVR to Orange County but
the government said no because there was no customs facilities there even
though you preclear in YVR. AS was forced to route the flight through SEA.

it would if it were serviced by CMA and cost $750/seat.

oil companies will pay whatever the hell it takes (or doesn't take) these days...

Great! Even Alaska!