Franke bets premium cabins to keep budget airlines profitable
Bill Franke, the Indigo Partners founder and Frontier Airlines chair, says the ultra-low-cost carrier is evolving toward premium options, with Frontier planning first-class seats on its Airbus fleet next year and adding SpaceX Starlink Wi‑Fi to boost profitability amid higher costs and copycat pricing from rivals. As United, Delta, and others roll out paid add‑ons, Spirit’s 2024 collapse left Frontier as the largest discounter; Franke argues price remains key for many travelers, but selective upscale cabins can improve margins. His career—developing America West and mentoring industry leaders—underscores his continuing influence as Frontier pursues a path to sustainable profitability.