Frontier shores up travel options
Airline launches direct service between Newburgh and Orlando, Miami, Tampa
Traveling between the Hudson Valley and Florida got a little easier starting Monday.
Frontier Airlines planned to commemorate the start of its direct service from Stewart International Airport to Orlando with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials at the Newburgh-based airport. The airline’s nonstop service to Orlando will operate four times weekly.
“Frontier’s new flight service to Florida will benefit not only Orange County, but the entire region,” said Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus.
Orlando is one of three Florida cities that Frontier will fly to directly from Stewart, as the airline announced over the summer; the other destinations are Miami and Tampa. Those flights will begin on Nov. 2 and will operate three times a week.
Frontier, which considers itself a “low-fare carrier,” over the summer offered introductory fares starting at $39 for flights purchased before Aug. 2. Airfare now starts at $78 for flights to Orlando, Miami and Tampa.
“We are not only incredibly supportive, but very excited for this new installation of Frontier,” said Amanda Dana, president of Hudson Valley Tourism. “It goes to support the theory that Hudson Valley is turning into a destination. With more routes coming into the Hudson Valley, it only proves we are going to be that destination.”
Allegiant Air also flies to the southern U.S. from Stewart, offering nonstop flights to Orlando, Punta Gorda and St. Pete-clearwater/tampa. Allegiant also offers seasonal flights from Stewart to Savannah and Myrtle Beach, S.C. in the winter months.
Jetblue Airways, which suspended operations out of Stewart indefinitely last year during the pandemic, once also offered
nonstop flights to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale from Newburgh.
In the absence of Jetblue service to the Sunshine State from Stewart, the Frontier flights have shored up Florida travel options again.
“Landing Frontier in Stewart is no small peanuts" said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer in a news release in July. “Frontier’s new service from the Stewart Airport to Florida will usher in a great new destination option for Hudson Valley residents and boost the region’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman Kevin O’toole said the addition of Frontier Airlines is a “significant accomplishment” for Stewart International airport as Port Authority continues its mission to reenergize the airport. Frontier is the first new airline to join the airport since Port Authority launched a new incentive program in the spring.
That program also featured a new marketing campaign to attract airline interest from across the industry to fly in and out of Stewart. Port Authority has held a series of meetings with domestic and international air carriers to discuss potential routes using the midhudson airport.
The Port Authority also announced plans to work in a coordinated fashion with local attractions like Storm King Art Center, Resorts World Catskills, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets and Legoland New York to create tourism packages for air travelers.
“[The addition of Frontier Airlines] will also create new opportunities for tourism, business, and economic development,” said Neuhaus. “As Orange County continues to grow as a tourism destination, I know that Frontier will enjoy success here.”