Frontier Group and AerCap Reach Agreement for Early Return of 24 A320neo Aircraft
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 11 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ULCC?
Frontier Group (ULCC) announced a non-binding agreement with AerCap Holdings (AER) for the early return of 24 A320neo aircraft currently in operation, all of which have lease agreements scheduled to expire within the next two to eight years. The 24 returns are expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2026. In turn, AerCap will agree to 10 future sale-leaseback transactions for deliveries scheduled for the years 2028 and 2029. These changes, along with other fleet initiatives, will strengthen Frontier's competitive position through increased fleet productivity.
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Analyst Views on ULCC
Wall Street analysts forecast ULCC stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 5.350
Low
4.00
Averages
5.57
High
8.00
Current: 5.350
Low
4.00
Averages
5.57
High
8.00
About ULCC
Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. is a holding company. The Company operates through its subsidiary, Frontier Airlines, Inc., which is an ultra-low-cost carrier company. The Company offers flights throughout the United States and to select near international destinations in the Americas. It has a fleet of approximately 159 Airbus single-aisle aircraft, consisting of eight A320ceos, 82 A320neos, 21 A321ceos and 48 A321neos. The Company primarily provides air transportation for passengers. It provides passenger airline service primarily to leisure travelers. It combines its fares with flexible optional services for an additional cost. Such additional options include carry-on and checked baggage, advance seat selection, extended-legroom premium seats, priority boarding and ticket changes and cancellations, as well as bundled options combining various optional services. The Company serves approximately 100 airports throughout the United States and international destinations in the Americas.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Frontier Airlines CEO to Participate in Barclays Industrial Conference
- Executive Participation: Frontier Airlines CEO Jimmy Dempsey will participate in the Barclays 43rd Annual Industrial Select Conference on February 17, 2026, at 1:50 PM ET, highlighting the company's leadership in the low-fare airline sector.
- Webcast Arrangement: The event will be webcast, allowing investors to access it through the company's investor relations website, enhancing interaction and transparency between the company and its investors.
- Archiving Policy: The webcast will be archived for 90 days, ensuring that investors who cannot attend live can still access the information, thereby improving information accessibility.
- Company Background: Frontier Airlines, a subsidiary of Frontier Group Holdings, Inc., is committed to delivering 'Low Fares Done Right' and operates the largest A320neo family fleet in the U.S., showcasing its competitive advantage in the aviation market.
See More
Frontier Airlines CEO to Attend Barclays Conference
- Executive Participation: Frontier Airlines CEO Jimmy Dempsey will participate in the Barclays 43rd Annual Industrial Select Conference on February 17, 2026, at 1:50 PM, highlighting the company's leadership in the low-fare airline market.
- Live Webcast Arrangement: The event will be webcast, allowing investors to access it through the company's investor relations website, enhancing interaction and transparency between the company and its investors.
- Archiving Strategy: The webcast will be archived for 90 days, ensuring that investors who cannot watch live can still access the information, further improving information accessibility.
- Company Background Overview: Frontier Airlines, a subsidiary of Frontier Group Holdings, Inc., is committed to delivering 'Low Fares Done Right' and operates the largest A320neo family fleet in the U.S., showcasing its competitive advantage in the aviation market.
See More
Frontier Group's Strategic Shift and Financial Outlook
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- Cost Savings Target: The company aims to achieve $200 million in annual cost savings by 2027, which includes approximately $90 million in expected rent savings from the AerCap agreement, significantly improving the company's financial health and supporting future growth.
- Operational Efficiency Improvements: Over 85% of customers utilize the updated mobile app, and Frontier aims to enhance customer experience and loyalty by leveraging digital channels to provide timely updates during delays, thereby strengthening its competitive position in the market.
- Growth Outlook: Management anticipates approximately 10% growth in 2026, primarily through infilling the existing network and selectively entering new markets, indicating the company's proactive approach to addressing market challenges while pursuing sustainable profitability.
See More
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- Frontier CEO's Revenue Expectations: The CEO of Frontier Airlines anticipates a revenue increase of over 10% in the first quarter of 2026.
- Positive Outlook for Q1 2026: This optimistic forecast suggests strong performance and growth potential for the airline in the upcoming quarter.
See More
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No Liquidity Penalty: The CEO of Frontier has stated that there is no liquidity penalty associated with an aircraft return deal with AerCap.
Aircraft Return Deal: The agreement involves the return of an aircraft, indicating a strategic move in Frontier's operations.
See More
Frontier Group Reports Q4 Earnings Exceeding Expectations
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- Profitability Maintained: The earnings per share stood at $0.23, unchanged from last year and $0.10 above expectations, indicating positive progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Frontier anticipates a 10% decline in capacity for FY26, potentially facing an adjusted loss of $0.40 to a profit of $0.50 per share, reflecting risks from intensified market competition and demand fluctuations.
- Fleet Optimization Plan: The company reached a non-binding agreement with AerCap for the early return of 24 Airbus A320neo aircraft, aimed at enhancing fleet productivity and strengthening competitive positioning to support future profitability recovery.
See More
Frontier Airlines CEO to Participate in Barclays Industrial Conference
- Executive Participation: Frontier Airlines CEO Jimmy Dempsey will participate in the Barclays 43rd Annual Industrial Select Conference on February 17, 2026, at 1:50 PM ET, highlighting the company's leadership in the low-fare airline sector.
- Webcast Arrangement: The event will be webcast, allowing investors to access it through the company's investor relations website, enhancing interaction and transparency between the company and its investors.
- Archiving Policy: The webcast will be archived for 90 days, ensuring that investors who cannot attend live can still access the information, thereby improving information accessibility.
- Company Background: Frontier Airlines, a subsidiary of Frontier Group Holdings, Inc., is committed to delivering 'Low Fares Done Right' and operates the largest A320neo family fleet in the U.S., showcasing its competitive advantage in the aviation market.
See More
Frontier Airlines CEO to Attend Barclays Conference
- Executive Participation: Frontier Airlines CEO Jimmy Dempsey will participate in the Barclays 43rd Annual Industrial Select Conference on February 17, 2026, at 1:50 PM, highlighting the company's leadership in the low-fare airline market.
- Live Webcast Arrangement: The event will be webcast, allowing investors to access it through the company's investor relations website, enhancing interaction and transparency between the company and its investors.
- Archiving Strategy: The webcast will be archived for 90 days, ensuring that investors who cannot watch live can still access the information, further improving information accessibility.
- Company Background Overview: Frontier Airlines, a subsidiary of Frontier Group Holdings, Inc., is committed to delivering 'Low Fares Done Right' and operates the largest A320neo family fleet in the U.S., showcasing its competitive advantage in the aviation market.
See More
Frontier Group's Strategic Shift and Financial Outlook
- Strategic Priorities: CEO James Dempsey emphasized that Frontier will focus on rightsizing the fleet, strengthening cost discipline, reducing cancellations, and improving on-time performance to enhance value for all stakeholders, demonstrating the company's commitment to transformation and confidence in its strategy.
- Cost Savings Target: The company aims to achieve $200 million in annual cost savings by 2027, which includes approximately $90 million in expected rent savings from the AerCap agreement, significantly improving the company's financial health and supporting future growth.
- Operational Efficiency Improvements: Over 85% of customers utilize the updated mobile app, and Frontier aims to enhance customer experience and loyalty by leveraging digital channels to provide timely updates during delays, thereby strengthening its competitive position in the market.
- Growth Outlook: Management anticipates approximately 10% growth in 2026, primarily through infilling the existing network and selectively entering new markets, indicating the company's proactive approach to addressing market challenges while pursuing sustainable profitability.
See More
FRONTIER CEO PREDICTS OVER 10% INCREASE IN UNIT REVENUES FOR Q1 2026
- Frontier CEO's Revenue Expectations: The CEO of Frontier Airlines anticipates a revenue increase of over 10% in the first quarter of 2026.
- Positive Outlook for Q1 2026: This optimistic forecast suggests strong performance and growth potential for the airline in the upcoming quarter.
See More
FRONTIER CEO AFFIRMS NO LIQUIDITY PENALTY IN AIRCRAFT RETURN AGREEMENT WITH AERCAP
No Liquidity Penalty: The CEO of Frontier has stated that there is no liquidity penalty associated with an aircraft return deal with AerCap.
Aircraft Return Deal: The agreement involves the return of an aircraft, indicating a strategic move in Frontier's operations.
See More
Frontier Group Reports Q4 Earnings Exceeding Expectations
- Stable Financial Performance: Frontier Group reported total revenue of $997 million in Q4, slightly down year-over-year but exceeding Wall Street expectations, demonstrating resilience in the low-cost airline market.
- Profitability Maintained: The earnings per share stood at $0.23, unchanged from last year and $0.10 above expectations, indicating positive progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Frontier anticipates a 10% decline in capacity for FY26, potentially facing an adjusted loss of $0.40 to a profit of $0.50 per share, reflecting risks from intensified market competition and demand fluctuations.
- Fleet Optimization Plan: The company reached a non-binding agreement with AerCap for the early return of 24 Airbus A320neo aircraft, aimed at enhancing fleet productivity and strengthening competitive positioning to support future profitability recovery.
See More
