Frontier Airlines has experienced a 71% increase in the average airfare collected per passenger during the third quarter, according to the company's latest earnings call. This marks a substantial rise from $39.74 in the previous year to $67.82 in the current quarter.

The airline collected an additional $28.08 per passenger from airfare alone, with other fees contributing a smaller portion to the overall revenue increase. Total revenue per passenger climbed from $106.44 to $138.22.

Despite the rise in ticket prices, Frontier reported an 18% increase in passenger volume, amounting to 1.5 million more travelers compared to the previous year. This surge is partly attributed to the collapse of Spirit Airlines in May, which allowed Frontier to attract former Spirit customers by offering significant discounts, up to 50% off base fares. Frontier also expanded its routes and flights in markets previously served by Spirit, leveraging its extensive route overlap with the defunct airline.

However, the increase in revenue did not translate to profitability. Frontier reported a net loss of $104 million, an increase from the $77 million loss reported a year prior. The airline's fuel costs surged by 82% to $425 million, primarily due to a 86% increase in jet fuel prices since February, driven by global events. Jet fuel, which is the airline's second-highest cost after labor, rose from approximately $2.39 per gallon to $4.44 per gallon.

Frontier also recorded a $134 million risk associated with the return of its Airbus aircraft. The company noted that while higher prices were not deterring customers, the rising operational costs, particularly fuel, continue to impact profits.

In related travel news, data from Google suggests that October is an optimal month for booking holiday travel. For Thanksgiving, the lowest prices are typically found 34 days before departure, with the most affordable booking window between 21–57 days out. For Christmas, the data indicates the most affordable prices appear 56 days before departure, with the lowest price range between 33–67 days, meaning deals are generally available from late October to mid-November.