There was something else at work at SMF - the brand new gltizy terminal and it's very high fees.

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/s...nal/50664930/1

"Southwest Airlines, which accounts for 55% of all Sacramento flights, paid a fee of $6.05 per passenger in 2008, but is projected to pay $16.15 next year and $19.67 by 2013."

Southwest made many disapproving statements about the fees and Frontier decided that it simply could not afford SMF.

Good point -- there are often many factors going into route planning decisions. Cost of operation is obviously an important factor that doesn't show up in online stats.

Indeed.

There have been (and continue to be) several drivers of the restructure, with costs and fleet discipline leading the charge.

As to the fleet, the E190's had to go (and given the Christmas melt-down of the E190 fleet, the sooner this is achieved, the better).

The A318's had to go, sadly, they are simply not economically viable.

BB did deals with most of the lessors for the rest of the fleet (A319/A320) and while they mostly played ball, GECAS got funny about 4 x A319's and it was agreed those aircraft would be returned.

This meant a lot of aircraft leaving the fleet in a very short space of time and the airline had to do as much as it could - with less. So there were some frequencies (or routes) that had to go, they didn't have the aircraft to fly 'em.

If they had the aircraft, they might have retained DEN-PHL - it was great in summer, miserable in winter - but crucial for the winter PHL-CUN/PUJ and it had a knock-on effect for CLE-CUN/PUJ and PIT-CUN-PUJ.

Everyone assumed that the move to CLE was because of Southwest/Airtran on DEN-CAK - and that may be an element of it. But Frontier's traffic DEN-CAK went up 7% in 2012 even with Southwest/Airtran on the route.

By switching DEN-CAK to DEN-CLE, they had a way to service CLE/PIT/PHL-CUN/PUJ - and saved money.

It is Feb. 22 and I am at E65 waiting for a flight to MSP. So, the DL move to D is still TBD?

A asked an agent at E69 Wednesday (2/20) how soon they were moving to D, and she said "in about a month...yes just about a month from today". I would doubt they'd move mid-week of course, so that sounds like the weekend of 3/16 or 3/23.

Of course that's only as good as the agent's information, but that's the last I heard.

This is the flight loads for today out of mke on f9
FLT ARVL FRM ACFT GTE FLT DPRT TO RMRK PX
934 D39 96 0945 CUN 135
370 1355 DEN 949 D39 793 1435 DEN 136
97 1555 CUN 933 IAB
~ 933 D39 373 1852 DEN 134
376 2203 DEN 921 D39
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2013
921 D39 271 0550 DEN 138

Is this the beginning of a new website?

http://www.flymke.com/

No--I think that site has been around for a couple of years now. I'm pretty sure they only use it in Chicago-focused advertising.

You are right. The news page last updated 2010.

Perhaps just copyright updated to 2013.

Per the DL SkyClub agent this morning, the move to d is set for 3/27. Sad to think that I had my last trip through the E concourse :( I've always loved it...it will be missed!

Yep, plan is to start up the morning of the 27th out of the D concourse. Of course my last info was wrong with the move happening in February. I assume the planes on the night of the 26th will arrive into D. I would think some of the restaurants will open up again, but cannot confirm at this point.

I've heard the same about the date of the move. Strikes me as odd to do it mid-week as opposed to the slow Saturday PM, but on the other hand this is happening in the midst of spring break / Easter peak. I doubt they'd move Easter weekend, for example . I got a look at D the other day and things are mostly ready, except for computer equipment. Podiums, jetways, chairs are all in place. They indeed have six jetways...D43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48. The D49 spot (which shares a jetway with 48) does not appear to be striped for a plane to park. Not sure if that will change, or if they'll use it for parking tugs and the like. The SkyClub does not appear to be done, but they have a bit over a week. I've hear both closed restaurants will reopen in the next weeks, but won't be ready precisely on the 27th.

Is there any corresponding news on the ex-CO ops at E-62 and E-63? I have to believe the airport wants to stop using those two "orphan" gates as soon as possible once DL leaves E...

I've heard it may well go the other way, where United and Air Canada consolidate on E. Frontier controls the other 6 gates on the rotunda (E63-69) although they will not be using them and operate out of D39 and D41, but United could use E60 and/or E61 to handle their flights. Frontier continues to pay rent on all their gates, and while they agreed with Delta to swap so that Delta could move to D, a similar swap with United does not seem as easy.

I'm do back in MKE on the 27th. See if we park on D.