Frontier pilots support airline, blame credit card company
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: AP
Pilots who work for Frontier Airlines are agreeing with their bosses, who blame the airline's bankruptcy filing on the company's principal credit-card processor. The head of the Frontier Airline Pilots Association says the decision by the processor to begin withholding a greater share of proceeds from ticket sales was a shock to the carrier. He says if had not been for First Data, a Colorado company, "We really had our act together."
Frontier says it will continue to operate a full schedule of flights and pay suppliers and employees as it seeks bankruptcy protection. The pilots association head says he believes the airline's 700 pilots will continue to support management.
Frontier has struggled amid rising fuel prices and aggressive competition at Denver International Airport from both United and Southwest airlines.
Frontier announced plans last year to build a maintenance facility in Colorado Springs. The airline has not reported any change in those plans.
