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By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune October 15. 2014 7:08PM Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Medford airport Director Bern Case was a bit envious when Frontier Airlines touched down in Eugene, providing service to Denver, in 2013. It was a regional airline providing more options to more potential destinations. Now, 18 months later, Frontier has announced it's pulling out of Mahlon Sweet Field as the airline turns its attention to larger markets. "I've been talking with (Frontier) for a long time and haven't been able to make it work," Case said Wednesday. "Their goal, of course, is to make money. If they're not making it, they're not going to stay long." Frontier was owned by Republic Airways Holdings when it arrived at the Eugene airport in May 2013. Arizona-based Indigo Partners, a private equity firm, acquired the airline last December. Soon Frontier said it was exiting smaller markets, including Bakersfield, Fresno and Santa Barbara, Calif., to focus on larger markets in the East and Midwest. With United Express providing twice-daily direct service to Denver from Medford, Case had no intention of giving the farm away with incentives. "You never want to give incentives to someone to compete against someone here and loyal," Case said.  Although there is a possibility travelers from south of Eugene may find their way to ticket counters in Medford, Case isn't expecting a measurable onslaught. "I don't think too many people were using (Frontier's) loyalty program," Case said. "The last time we checked Roseburg generically, we were getting about 46 percent of the passengers and Eugene was getting 54." Not too many years ago, Medford was gaining on Eugene for passenger count, but more recently the Lane County airport enhanced its profile with more flights to the Bay Area and seasonal service to Honolulu. Case said it was likely United, which also offers a Eugene-Denver flight, lowered fares when Frontier came to town just as it did when repeated newcomers introduced Medford-San Francisco routes. "They do it at all the airports," he said. "You have to have deep enough pockets to survive those initial encounters." Case said he was still hoping to restore service to the Phoenix area, but it will be February or March before he knows more. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31, and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge.      http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141015/NEWS/141019743 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->