Frontier Airlines is making a significant move into South America with the launch of three new nonstop routes from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Colombia, marking the airline’s first-ever scheduled service to the continent. The expansion comes as Frontier continues to grow rapidly across the United States while its international network has moved in the opposite direction.
OAG data shows that Frontier’s overall flight schedule has increased by 11% in 2026, reaching its highest level on record, with approximately 49.2 million seats available for sale. That growth, however, has been driven overwhelmingly by the enormous US domestic market. International flights have declined by about 10% year over year, making the three Colombian routes particularly important as Frontier seeks to rebuild and diversify its international presence.
The new services will all depart from Orlando International Airport, with launches scheduled during December, just ahead of the busy Christmas and winter holiday travel period. Frontier will connect Orlando with Medellín, Bogotá, and Cartagena, giving the ultra-low-cost carrier an immediate presence in three of Colombia’s most important international markets.
Frontier Airlines’ First South America Routes
Frontier’s Colombian expansion begins on December 10, when daily service between Orlando and Medellín starts operating. The Medellín route will face direct competition from Avianca, Colombia’s flag carrier and one of the country’s largest airlines. Six weekly flights between Orlando and Bogotá follow on December 14, creating another competitive market where Frontier will go head-to-head with both Avianca and LATAM.
The third route, Orlando–Cartagena, launches on December 19 with one weekly flight. Although the frequency is considerably lower than Frontier’s Medellín and Bogotá schedules, the route gives the airline access to Colombia’s major Caribbean tourism market. All three routes previously had service from Spirit Airlines, which ceased operations in 2025 or 2026 depending on the market.
This makes Frontier’s expansion a clear example of an airline responding to a major change in the competitive landscape. Spirit’s departure left substantial demand that did not disappear with the airline. Frontier can now use its ultra-low-cost model to target travelers looking for lower fares between Central Florida and Colombia while competing directly with established full-service and hybrid carriers.
Orlando- Colombia Demand Creates A Strong Opportunity
The size of the existing market helps explain why Frontier selected Colombia for its first South American operation. OAG Traffic Analyzer booking data indicates that approximately 530,000 round-trip passengers traveled between Orlando and Colombia in 2025. The figure includes both nonstop travelers and passengers using connecting itineraries, particularly through Panama City, Bogotá, and Miami.
The demand is closely connected to the large Colombian-descended population in the Greater Orlando area, creating a substantial market for both visiting-friends-and-relatives travel and leisure trips. Bogotá alone recorded approximately 227,000 local round-trip passengers from Orlando in 2025, making Orlando the second-largest US market for Colombia’s capital behind Miami.
The former Spirit operation also demonstrated the importance of price. Average fares from Orlando to Bogotá were approximately 17% lower than fares from Miami, even though the Orlando route covered about 13% more distance. Frontier’s low-cost structure could allow it to preserve an attractive price proposition while stimulating additional demand.
Medellín And Cartagena Add More International Reach
The Medellín market is similarly significant. About 171,000 passengers traveled between Orlando and Medellín in 2025, making Orlando the third-largest US market for Medellín after Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Frontier’s decision to launch daily service therefore gives it access to an established market rather than attempting to create demand from scratch.
Cartagena is smaller but strategically useful. Around 33,000 passengers traveled between Orlando and Cartagena during 2025, placing Orlando fourth among US markets for the Colombian coastal city. Spirit’s final 12 months of operation saw only 67.8% of its Cartagena seats filled, according to US Department of Transportation data. Frontier’s decision to operate only once weekly could help better match capacity with demand.
Frontier’s December International Network
Once all three Colombian routes are operating, Frontier will have 42 international routes from 15 airports during December. Orlando becomes the airline’s most extensively served airport from a network perspective, with eight international routes, although it will rank second in international departures behind Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Frontier’s broader international footprint will include six routes from Atlanta, five from Philadelphia, four each from Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston, and smaller international networks from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, St. Louis, San Juan, Chicago O’Hare, Detroit, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Washington Dulles.
The Colombian launches therefore represent more than three isolated routes. They are part of Frontier’s wider attempt to reshape its international network around markets where its low-fare model can generate enough demand to support sustainable service. For travelers in Central Florida, the result is especially notable: Frontier Airlines is entering South America for the first time with three routes at once, giving Orlando passengers new nonstop options to Medellín, Bogotá, and Cartagena just before the peak holiday season.
