Customers Will Fly In RJs For Time Being

It'll be a late start for Lynx Aviation, Frontier Airlines' planned regional subsidiary. On Tuesday, Lynx reported a delay in its initial forecasted timeline for completion of certification.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires a new airline to achieve certification before it can begin flying commercially. Lynx initially expected certification prior to its published launch date of October 1, 2007' at the moment, though, it's anyone's guess when Lynx will finally fly.

"While we are certainly frustrated with the lack of timeliness in the certification process, we are very pleased with the progress we have made building this company and preparing for the future," said Tom Nunn, President of Lynx Aviation. "The employees of Lynx have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this airline and we will continue to do all we can to meet and exceed the FAA's milestones and requirements so that we can begin flying as soon as possible."

Frontier says it will honor tickets sold on Lynx, flying existing Embraer 170 and CRJ-700 planes operated by Republic Airways and Horizon Air on routes for Wichita, Rapid City, Sioux City, Albuquerque and Billings. The airline will supplement those operations with mainline Airbus planes as needed.

Once the airline receives the bureaucratic all-clear, Lynx will fly those routes using a fleet of Q400 turboprops.

FMI: www.frontierairlines.com