ATLANTA — Budget travelers, get your carry-ons ready. Frontier Airlines is plotting a coast-to-coast and island-hopping expansion that will put two-dozen new pins on the low-cost carrier’s route map by the end of 2026. The Denver-based airline confirmed plans for 22 additional nonstop flights that will debut in November and December 2026, linking major U.S. hubs with sunny Caribbean beaches, historic Central American capitals and a pair of Midwestern cities that have long lobbied for cheaper options.
Where the New Flights Will Go
According to scheduling details reviewed by Jetsetter Guide, Frontier will use its largest East Coast base—Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—to launch service to Milwaukee and Memphis. Those relatively short hops complement three warm-weather additions from Atlanta: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and a reinstated Nassau, Bahamas route that disappeared from Frontier’s timetable during the pandemic.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) scores south-of-the-border attention with new nonstops to Guatemala City, Guatemala, and San Salvador, El Salvador. Together, these moves give the carrier a stronger footprint in Central America, a region where both vacationers and visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic are on the rise.
Every Announced Pairing, At a Glance
- Atlanta (ATL) – Milwaukee (MKE)
- Atlanta (ATL) – Memphis (MEM)
- Atlanta (ATL) – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS)
- Atlanta (ATL) – Philipsburg, St. Maarten (SXM)
- Atlanta (ATL) – Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) (resumed)
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Guatemala City (GUA)
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – San Salvador (SAL)
The remainder of the 22 routes will be divided among Frontier’s focus cities in Orlando, Miami, Denver and Las Vegas, giving snowbound flyers from the Mountain West and Midwest one-stop access to palm trees during North America’s chilliest months.
Why Frontier Is Expanding Now
Industry watchers have waited for a major move from Frontier ever since the airline’s proposed merger with Spirit collapsed in early 2025. Executives have repeatedly hinted that the carrier would “pivot hard into growth mode” rather than pursue another tie-up. Josh Flyr, vice president of network and operations design, told TravelHost last year that Frontier aims to “demonstrate that [air travel] can be comfortable, convenient and affordable.”
The upcoming batch of flights underscores that strategy. By back-loading the launch dates to late fourth-quarter 2026, Frontier positions itself for high-yield holiday traffic and the lucrative January-March period when cabin fever pushes Americans toward the islands. The airline has also been quietly taking delivery of Airbus A321neo jets that offer extra fuel efficiency and range—ideal for routes like Dallas-Fort Worth to Central America or Atlanta to the Lesser Antilles.
Fares Starting at $19—With Fine Print
Frontier’s promotional playbook is familiar to anyone who follows flash sales: headline-grabbing one-way fares as low as $19 for domestic hops and $79 for longer international legs. To snag those seats, customers must buy by 11:59 p.m. Eastern the day the sale opens and travel between Nov. 20, 2025, and March 5, 2026. (Yes, you read that correctly—tickets go on sale a full year before the flights actually begin, a quirk that rewards early birds.) Seasonal blackout dates apply around Thanksgiving, Christmas and key spring-break weeks.
Remember that Frontier’s “unbundled” model means the rock-bottom price covers only the seat and a personal item that fits under the chair in front of you. Add-ons—carry-on bags, checked luggage, advance seat assignments, priority boarding—can quickly eclipse the base fare. Even so, travelers who can pack light or share a checked bag often find that the total cost remains lower than competing full-service airlines.
Loyalty Revamp and Cabin Upgrades
The carrier also teased changes to its FRONTIER Miles loyalty program and a refreshed “Stretch” seat concept that adds extra legroom in the first two rows of its single-aisle jets. Details remain scarce, but company officials say perks will focus on faster points accrual and “more meaningful” redemption options. If Frontier follows peers like JetBlue and Alaska, expect bonus mileage on ancillary spend such as bags and seat selection—revenue streams that already boost the airline’s bottom line.
Regional Impact: Winners and Watch-Lists
Memphis and Milwaukee airport authorities have long courted low-cost carriers to counter legacy dominance from Delta and Southwest, respectively. A new entrant wielding sub-$40 fares could re-price entire corridors and push competitors to match—or at least pare checked-bag fees. Meanwhile, Caribbean destinations like Providenciales and Philipsburg rely heavily on American tourists, so an influx of budget flights should broaden the visitor base beyond luxury honeymooners.
Central American capitals, for their part, welcome any additional capacity that serves family and diaspora traffic. The Dallas-Fort Worth to San Salvador route, in particular, pits Frontier against American Airlines and Avianca. Increased competition could lower airfares for Salvadoran-Americans making home visits or connecting onward to Nicaragua and Honduras.
What Travelers Should Know
- Book early, decide later: Frontier’s tickets are non-refundable but can be modified for a fee. Buying during the $19 sale locks in the fare even if you later change the date.
- Mind the baggage math: A single checked bag purchased online during booking often costs less than a carry-on purchased at the gate. Compare before confirming.
- Use the app: Frontier’s mobile app pushes “last-minute seat discount” notifications that occasionally shave another $5-$10 off Stretch seating.
- Check passport validity: Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten, Nassau, Guatemala and El Salvador require passports valid for at least six months beyond travel dates.
- Watch the clock: Frontier closes check-in counters exactly sixty minutes before international departures—no exceptions.
Tips for Travelers Looking to Save
1. Bundle strategically. Frontier’s “WORKS” and “PERKS” bundles can be a smart buy for longer flights if you plan to check a bag, select a seat and need flexibility. For a short hop to Milwaukee, skip the bundle and travel with only a backpack.
2. Stack discounts. The airline periodically issues promo codes—often combed through on social media—that shave up to 10 percent off base fare before taxes and fees.
3. Consider the Unlimited Flight Pass. Passholders pay a flat annual fee, then cover only taxes and fees on each itinerary. Frontier confirmed to Jetsetter Guide that the new routes will be included “after initial roll-out,” making the pass more valuable for sun-seekers who plan multiple trips.
4. Fly mid-week. The Tuesday/Wednesday/Saturday pattern continues for most of the new routes, with Friday and Sunday frequencies added only during peak holidays. Traveling on off-peak days reduces both fare and crowd levels.
The Big Picture for 2026
Frontier’s 22-route announcement lands in a market still digesting pandemic-era shifts. Leisure demand now outpaces corporate travel, prompting airlines to re-assign capacity from business-heavy corridors like New York–Chicago to vacation-centric destinations. Frontier’s move aligns with that industry pivot while leveraging its reputation for bare-bones fares.
Analysts will be watching yield data—the average revenue per passenger mile—to gauge whether $19 teaser fares ultimately translate into profitable operations once bags, seat fees and onboard snacks are tallied. If the numbers add up, expect Frontier to keep pressing into secondary U.S. cities and additional Caribbean islands.
Your Next Steps
Want to be among the first on board? Set fare alerts now, gather your travel companions and keep passports at the ready. With ultra-low-cost carriers, fortune favors the decisive. After all, that $19 seat could evaporate faster than a piña colada in the Turks and Caicos sun.
