US Airline Seeks Approval in Colombia to Operate on Several Routes Across the Country
The Air Transport and Aerocommercial Affairs Directorate of the Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil) is studying a request from U.S. low-cost airline Frontier Airlines, headquartered in the city of Denver, Colorado, to operate daily flights between Orlando and Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena and Cali.
The company, which flies to more than one hundred destinations in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, asked Colombia’s aeronautical authority for seven weekly frequencies in each direction, equivalent to one daily flight per connection. The total capacity requested includes 28 weekly flights from Orlando to Colombia and another 28 corresponding to return routes.
Frontier requested traffic rights up to the fourth freedom of the air. This authorization allows an airline to transport passengers, mail and cargo from the country where it is registered to another State and subsequently operate the corresponding return trip.
Four routes between the United States and Colombia
The U.S. airline’s request states that the services would be provided with Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, models that are part of its fleet and would be used on the four proposed routes to enter the Colombian air market from Orlando.
The first of these proposed routes is Orlando-Bogota-Orlando, with seven weekly frequencies. It would directly connect the U.S. airport with the Colombian capital through scheduled services for travelers, mail transportation and cargo movement.
The second route is Orlando-Medellin-Orlando, with one daily flight. With this connection, Frontier would add one of the two largest Colombian urban centers to its network and add a new international alternative from Florida.
Another route is the Orlando-Cartagena-Orlando route. The capital of Bolivar is one of the country’s main tourist destinations and would be connected daily with one of the crew base cities that Frontier has in the United States.
The fourth route would be Orlando-Cali-Orlando, with the same capacity of seven frequencies per week. This operation would expand direct air options between Florida and the city that serves as a gateway to southwestern Colombia.
In total, the four connections would add 28 weekly departure frequencies from Orlando. The proposal provides for the same number of return routes, distributed among Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena and Cali, although the effective schedule will depend on official approval.
Low-cost and with a robust operation
Frontier Airlines received the 2025 Diamond Award for Excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last February, in recognition of its commitment to training and safety in aircraft maintenance (AMT).
To qualify for this award, 100% of the airline’s eligible AMTs must complete additional safety training courses developed by the FAA throughout the year.
In recent years, Frontier has modernized the curriculum of its Technical Operations training program, introducing new courses and developing new training techniques that include structured hands-on experience.
This ensures that the company’s computer-assisted maintenance technicians (AMTs) receive top-level training and are qualified to support daily operations.
Frontier’s corporate information explains that the company transported 33 million passengers during 2025 and generated revenues of US$3.7 billion. During that period, it operated more than 440 nonstop routes at more than 100 airports in the region.
The company reports a fleet of 176 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, an operation of up to 700 daily flights and more than 8,000 employees. It also has a schedule of new aircraft to expand the size of its network.
Frontier, considered the largest ultra-low-cost airline in the United States, maintains crew bases in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Tampa.
The company also highlights that it is focused on offering competitive prices, with one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the United States.
Likewise, it says that thanks to an expanding network and continued investment in improvements to its services, such as the introduction of Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi connection on board, First Class seats and better benefits for frequent travelers, Frontier offers its customers greater comfort, flexibility and rewards while keeping fares low.