Frontier takes off from Grand Rapids

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Another discount air carrier made its first flight out of Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Saturday morning.

With a water cannon salute, Frontier Airlines blazed a new trail with nonstop service from Grand Rapids to its home hub in Denver. The 99-seat jet decorated with a wolverine tail was just two seats short of full for its inaugural flight out of Ford International.

"It's a city that we think fits well with our route structure," said Cliff Van Leuven, of Frontier Airlines. "It allows the Grand Rapids community to connect all over the west on the Frontier system."

Betty Porter recently moved to West Michigan from Colorado and said now, she can avoid the hassle of flying out of Detroit or Milwaukee. Her flight time is just more than two hours at a price of $215.

"The price was perfect and I love it being nonstop," Porter said. "That's the best (part)."

Frontier is just the latest in a string of low-fare carriers to make a run at the Grand Rapids market. Allegiant came to West Michigan just more than one year ago and AirTran made its first flight out of GRR earlier this month. Airport officials say the additions are finally starting to drive down the Ford International's notoriously high fares.

"So, we're back in balance," said Jim Koslosky, the executive director of Ford International Airport. "We'll have very competitive airfares out of here within a year."

Officials say with highway improvements and the airport's upgraded infrastructure, Ford International could potentially serve up to 1.7 million passengers annually. Koslosky said with 125 flights out per day to 23 nonstop markets, the airport hopes to attract new business to the region.

"Good air service is essential to economic development," Koslosky added.