Frontier CEO Rebukes United’s Low-Cost Airline Critique in New York

Lead Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle sharply challenged United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby’s prediction that ultra-low-cost carriers are doomed, countering the claim at the Skift Global Forum in New York on Thursday.

Nut Graf Speaking to industry leaders, Biffle defended Frontier’s model as “alive and well,” arguing that U.S. carriers face an oversupply of seats and that Frontier attracts travelers who otherwise wouldn’t fly, underscoring the relevance of budget carriers amid shifting market dynamics.

Main Part Subheading: A Battle of Business Models At the conference, Kirby had quipped that Spirit Airlines was “going out of business” because he was “good at math,” a jab implying the failure of no-frills airlines. Biffle retorted, “That’s cute,” and accused Kirby of misunderstanding market realities.

Subheading: Oversupply and Opportunity Biffle asserted the domestic aviation market is grappling with excess capacity, which depresses yields across all carriers. He framed Frontier’s growth-42 new routes since late August-as evidence that there remains strong demand for ultra-low-fare service.

Subheading: Defending the Underserved Flyer Rejecting the notion that Frontier piggy-backs on larger airlines’ leftover seats, Biffle likened Kirby’s remark to a Nordstrom CEO claiming customers actually shop at Walmart. He emphasized Frontier is tapping into a new customer base seeking affordable travel options.

Subheading: Strategic Outlook Looking ahead, Biffle forecast industry seat reductions over the next two years driven by Spirit’s retrenchment and broader capacity cuts. Frontier plans to bolster profitability through network adjustments, capacity management and product enhancements, including first-class seating in early 2026.