Another low-cost airline leaves 6 cities, refunds available

With the low-cost airline market facing significant changes from the time the model rose to prominence in the early 2000s, many budget carriers are struggling to stay profitable amid high operating costs and aggressive competition in many markets.

The cost of jet fuel that spiked over the U.S. strike on Iran ended up dealing the final blow to Spirit Airlines. JetBlue and Frontier Airlines stand on more solid financial ground but have both made significant cuts to their networks throughout the year to prioritize high-traffic routes and cut underperforming ones.

At the start of June, JetBlue shared that it will close its flight attendant base at Newark Liberty International Airport, while Frontier Airlines will exit two cities permanently by the end of the summer and suspend all flights to four others for what the airline hopes will be a temporary period.

Frontier Airlines cuts 20 flights from 2026 summer flying schedule

The Denver-based airline, as first spotted by aviation tracker AeroRoutes, will cut more than 20 low-performing routes from its flying schedule by the end of August.

The cuts also include the permanent exit from Spokane in Washington and Sarasota in California as well as the suspension of flights from Corpus Christi in Texas, Knoxville in Tennessee as well as San José and St. Maarten internationally.

Related: Frontier Airlines CEO gives stark warning on economy

The main victims of the cuts are Orlando International (MSO) and Denver International (DEN). Twice-weekly service between Denver and Spokane International (GEG) will be phased out by July 3. Flights from Orlando to St. Maarten, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco will run for the last time on Aug. 15 and 17, respectively.

Service for the 20 routes from cities such as Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Tampa has been phased out throughout July and August. Although several routes have been suspended in the hopes of restarting them later, the majority are being canceled permanently.

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How to get a refund if my Frontier flight is canceled

While Frontier has not publicly commented on the reasons behind the route cuts, many of the cuts concern flights also run by mainstream airlines such as Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Patterns also show a slowdown in demand for certain vacation destinations oversaturated with carriers flying the same routes.

International destinations such as Punta Cana and St. Maarten also reflect expansion in a market with a limited traveler base that may not pan out as anticipated when holiday travel patterns shift.

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"We periodically review and update routes based on market demand, seasonality, costs associated with operating from a particular airport, and other factors," the airline said in a statement on past flight cancellations.

For those who already booked travel beyond the cancellation date, Frontier's website states that customers with tickets canceled by the airline are entitled to a refund "to the original form of payment" if they choose not to accept the proposed rebooking option.

"Refunds will be issued to the original form of payment either upon request or automatically after the scheduled departure date," Frontier writes of its policy online. "Refunds will be processed within seven business days."

Related: Airline cancels all flights to country over geopolitical instability