Frontier Airlines to resume nonstop service from San Diego to Orlando during busy holiday season

Frontier Airlines announced Thursday that it will begin offering seasonal nonstop service between San Diego and Orlando, starting Nov. 5 and lasting through Jan. 3 of 2023.

The route is not unfamiliar to the low-budget airline. Last year, Frontier flew between the two cities in March and April. The resumption of seasonal service is timed to take advantage of Orlando’s mild winter weather and the holiday season, which represents some of the busiest times at area theme parks, including Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and Legoland Florida Resort.

While Southern California has its share of theme parks that celebrate the holidays with multiple promotions and special events, the activities in the Florida parks are exponentially bigger, said Ohio-based theme park consultant Dennis Speigel.

“The holidays are huge in Orlando,” he said. “Disney World events are a much larger, richer experience, and it’s some of Orlando’s best weather during the entire 12 months.

“But there’s a downside to this — it’s also their busiest time of the year. They raise the prices and it’s a very crowded period. They have their largest attendance days during the Christmas holidays.”

While Frontier is not offering any special promotional fares, a check of the airline’s website indicated that many roundtrips can be purchased for under $300.

“From one destination to another, we appreciate Frontier Airlines adding a seasonal nonstop flight between our two cities,” said Kimberly Becker, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “The holiday months during which this service will be offered is a popular time for Southern Californians to travel and we welcome those visiting from central Florida.”

The only other airline that flies nonstop to Orlando from San Diego is Alaska Airlines, which offers some extra flights over and above its daily service during the November to January time frame, said airport spokeswoman Sabrina LoPiccolo.

In addition to the Orlando route, Frontier Airlines offers nonstop service to four other destinations — Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.