Denver flights added

Both Frontier Airlines and United Airlines will add an additional flight from Spokane to Denver, starting in May.

Both now operate two round-trips daily to Denver. Frontier’s new flight starts May 22 and adds an afternoon departure, leaving Spokane at 3:05 p.m. and arriving just after 6 p.m.

Frontier’s current two flights to Denver leave Spokane at 6:50 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.

On May 4, United Airlines will restore a Spokane-Denver flight that it dropped in January when the company cut operations as part of its financial reorganization.

The new United flight leaves Spokane at 6 a.m., arriving in Denver at 9:08 a.m. United has two current Denver flights, leaving Spokane daily at 8:20 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The additions are the result of increased overall air travel, said John Morrison, executive director of the Spokane airport. “They are both adding flights to help meet their summer peaks,” he noted.

Both airlines are seeing increased travel to Denver, which is the closest large hub to Spokane for connecting flights to the southwest and the east, said Frontier Airlines spokesman Joe Hodas.

“We feel there is demand in Spokane for the service that we offer to Denver,” Hodas said.

United, in addition to restoring the third flight, upgraded one of its Denver aircraft to handle more passengers, said the airline’s Spokane station manager, Peg James.

On one of its Sunday flights to Denver, United now will operate a Boeing 757, replacing a 737. The 757 holds about 180 seats. The 737, depending on configurations, holds between 108 and 130 seats, said James.

That change was added last week in preparation for spring-break travel, James said.