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BEFORE THEDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
____________________________________Application of )
)FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC. ) Docket OST-03-
)For an exemption pursuant to )49 U.S.C. 40109 )(Denver – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) )____________________________________)
APPLICATION OF FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC. FOR AN EXEMPTION (DENVER – PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO)
Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:
David Sislowski Edward P. FabermanFRONTIER AIRLINES, INC. UNGARETTI & HARRISGeneral Counsel Counsel for Frontier Airlines, Inc.Frontier Center One 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 2507001 Tower Road Washington, DC 20005-1714Denver, CO 80249-7312 Tel: 202-639-7501Tel: 720-374-4512 Fax: 202-639-7505Fax: 720-374-4376 [email protected]@flyfrontier.com
June 5, 2003
BEFORE THEDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
____________________________________Application of )
)FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC. ) Docket OST-03-
)For an exemption pursuant to )49 U.S.C. 40109 )(Denver – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) )____________________________________)
APPLICATION OF FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC. FOR AN EXEMPTION (DENVER – PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO)
Frontier Airlines, Inc. ("Frontier"), pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40109, hereby applies for a two-
year exemption from 49 U.S.C. 41101 and any other provision of the Department's rules to the
extent necessary to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail
between Denver, Colorado, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (hereinafter referred to as " Puerto Vallarta
" or "PVR") with services beginning on November 22, 2003.
Frontier is fit, willing, and able to perform the U.S.-Mexico services proposed herein using
Airbus A-319-111 aircraft, with an average seat configuration of 132 seats, and Boeing 737-
300 aircraft, with an average seat configuration of 136 seats. Frontier reserves the right to
serve this route with other aircraft from its fleet.
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In support of its application, Frontier submits the following:
1. Frontier is an air carrier, as defined by 49 USC 40102, based in Denver, Colorado
and seeks an exemption authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air
transportation of persons, property and mail between Denver and Puerto Vallarta,
Mexico.
2. Frontier is incorporated under the laws of the State of Colorado and its principle
place of business is 7001 Tower Road, Denver, Colorado, 80249.
3. Frontier operates approximately 90 daily mainline and Jet Express departures at its
hub in Denver, Colorado. Frontier currently serves 31 cities itself and 37
additional cities through its codeshare partnerships with Great Lakes Aviation and
Mesa Airlines. This strong network of services enables Frontier to offer
convenient connections to PVR from a large number of communities in the United
States (supporting commerce and tourism between PVR and these communities).
As a result of this new service to PVR, Frontier will offer substantial benefits to
areas beyond the immediate Denver metropolitan area.
4. Grant of Frontier's application clearly is in the public interest. It will allow
Frontier to provide the only affordable fare, scheduled service between Denver,
Colorado and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Such service will benefit consumers
seeking the convenience of nonstop service in the local market, as well as consumers
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in multiple U.S. cities beyond Frontier's Denver hub seeking competitive
transportation options to PVR.
5. Frontier’s existing Denver service to Cancun, Mexico and Mazatlan, Mexico has
been highly successful. Frontier’s expanded Mexico service has been part of its
growth of the Denver hub.
6. Frontier's proposed DEN-PVR service is fully consistent with the aviation
agreement between the United States and Mexico. No other U.S. carrier is
currently providing scheduled service in the Denver-Puerto Vallarta market, and thus
this request is within the double-designation-per-city-pair limitation.
7. A route map of Frontier's proposed DEN-PVR service is attached as Exhibit F9-D1.
Frontier's fuel burn projection is set forth in Exhibit F9-D2. Frontier's illustrative
schedule for the proposed DEN-PVR service is attached as Exhibit F9-D3.
Frontier does not anticipate any difficulty in obtaining fuel.
WHEREFORE, Frontier Airlines, Inc. respectfully requests that the Department grant an
exemption from 49 U.S.C. 41101 and any such other additional relief as the public interest may
require permitting Frontier to provide scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and
mail between Denver, Colorado and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Frontier also requests that this
application be considered in accordance with 14 CFR 302.309. Further, Frontier requests that
this exemption be granted no later than July 15, 2003 so it may be provided adequate time to
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market and sell its new DEN-PVR service.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward P. FabermanUNGARETTI & HARRIS1500 K Street, NW, Suite 250Washington, DC 20005-1714Tel: 202-639-7501Fax: [email protected]
Counsel for Frontier Airlines, Inc.
June 5, 2003
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Exhibit F9-D1Route Map for DEN-PVR-DEN
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Exhibit F9-D2Fuel Burn Projection
Segment Equipment Season Taxi Burn Rate Taxi Time En Route Burn Rate En Route Time Total Fuel Burn Total Fuel Burn(lbs./min.) (min.) (lbs./min.) (min.) (lbs.) (gal.)
DEN-PVR Airbus A319 Year-Round 20 20 90.1 171 15,800 2,358PVR-DEN Airbus A319 Year-Round 20 10 95.1 162 15,600 2,328
Based on the following conditions:Passenger Load Factor: 65%Pounds of Cargo: 5,000Taxi times reflect airport averages
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Exhibit F9-D3Illustrative Schedule
Flight 69 64
Equipment Airbus A319 Airbus A319
Seats 132 132
Frequency Tues., Fri., and Sat. Tues., Fri., and Sat.
From DEN PVR
Departure time 0950 1520
To PVR DEN
Arrival Time 1415 1740
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that I served a copy of the Application of Frontier Airlines, Inc. for an Exemption (Denver – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) on June 5, 2003 to each of the persons listed below.
________________________Sonia S. Pak
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SERVICE LIST
R. Bruce Keiner, Jr.Crowell & Moring LLP(For Continental Airlines, Inc. & Express.Net Airlines, LLC)[email protected]
Megan Rae RosiaManaging Director, Government Affairs& Associate General CounselNorthwest Airlines, [email protected]
Jeffrey A. ManleyWilmer, Cutler & Pickering(for United Airlines, Inc.)[email protected]
Donald T. BlissO’Melveny & Myers LLP(for US Airways, Inc.)[email protected]
Carl B. Nelson, Jr.Associate General CounselAmerican Airlines, [email protected]
Marshall S. SinickSquire, sanders & Dempsey, LLP(for Alaska Airlines, Inc.)[email protected]
Brian T. HuntGeneral CounselAmerican Trans Air, [email protected]
Joanne W. YoungBaker & Hostetler, LLP(for America West Airlines, Inc.)[email protected]
John L. RichardsonCrispin & Brenner, PLLC(for Amerijet International, Inc.)[email protected]
Embassy of MexicoDepartment of Civil Aviation1911 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20006
Consulate of Mexico48 Steele Street300 West Morgan StreetDenver, CO 80206
Bruce BaumgartnerManager of AviationDenver International Airport8500 Pena BoulevardDenver, CO 80249
The Honorable Bill OwensGovernor of the State of Colorado136 State CapitolDenver, CO 80203
The Honorable Wayne AllardUnited States Senate525 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510
The Honorable Ben Nighthorse CampbellUnited States Senate380 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mark UdallUnited States House of Representatives115 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515
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The Honorable Diana DeGetteUnited States House of Representatives1530 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515
The Honorable Scott McInnisUnited States House of Representatives320 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515
The Honorable Tom TancredoUnited States House of Representatives418 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515
The Honorable Bob SchafferUnited States House of Representatives212 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515
The Honorable Joel HefleyUnited States House of Representatives2230 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515
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