Airport officials on Tuesday announced that Frontier Airlines will again offer direct flights between Florida and the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. Officials also said they plan to break ground within the next two weeks on a previously announced $50 million project to build a three-story terminal building.
At a press conference at the South Burlington airport, Direction of Aviation Nic Longo said Frontier Airlines will return to provide non-stop service to Tampa and Orlando starting on Dec. 20. Although Breeze Airways already serves that area, Longo said Frontier’s flights will fulfill continuing demand as Florida is the airport’s “number one destination.”
Frontier, a low cost airline, left the Vermont airport before the pandemic hit for reasons related to finance and demand, Longo said. Earlier this year, JetBlue stopped serving Vermont, eliminating popular, twice-daily flights between Burlington and New York City.
Noting that traveler numbers are on the rise, Longo said more than 3,500 people passed through the security checkpoint at the airport this past Sunday which is a record. Airlines serving Leahy BTV are averaging 87% occupancy – the second highest in New England, after Boston Logan International Airport, according to Longo. The national average is 79%, he said.
The airport has also recorded the highest number of outbound passengers this year since 2009, which marked an all-time high for the airport, said Longo.
“Our vision is not only to keep up with the growing aviation demand, but to get ahead of it,” said Longo.
The uptick in passengers highlights the need for the upcoming expansion, according to Longo.
Dubbed “Project NexT,” the construction of a new north terminal will be the second major infrastructure improvement since the expansion of the south terminal in 2022. The new building is expected to be about the same size as the current one, or about 30,000 square feet, Longo said.
Expected to be completed in two years, the project involves a mass timber building with geothermal and solar capacity, newer aircraft gates, offices on the third floor and an outdoor patio area for public use – a feature Longo is most pleased about because he said people often wish they could go into the observation tower which is only accessible to ticketed passengers.
The addition will enhance the airport’s ability to host more flights, larger aircrafts and foster greater competition, he said.
Disruptions are expected to be minimal, Longo said, explaining that passengers will see some temporary walls and some airline gates being switched around during the construction phase.
“This isn’t just another construction project,” he continued. “This is a pivotal step forward in accommodating the increased demand that I just talked about — the increased demand in modern air travel to ensure that we are ready for the next generation of aviation needs.”
Whether it will attract greater usage or more airlines remains to be seen. Longo said officials are always in discussions with new and existing airline partners to expand travel to and from the Burlington airport.
“We are positioning Leahy BTV to be a hub for innovation, the opportunity for additional growth, and, of course, to welcome new airlines,” he said.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Frontier Airlines to bring back Florida flights to Burlington airport.