=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/08/01/f= inancial1000EDT0051.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, August 1, 2003 (AP) Frontier to expand fleet by 60 percent (08-01) 07:03 PDT DENVER (AP) -- Frontier Airlines announced Friday that it reached an agreement with Airbus to purchase 15 A319s, with an option to buy 23 more. Delivery of the aircraft will begin in 2004 and continue through 2008. Frontier also said it plans to lease up to 14 additional A319s over the next five years. The carrier said it expects to have a fleet of 62 planes by early 2008, = up from 38 today. The carrier's existing A319 aircraft are configured with 132 seats. Frontier is hoping to inherit gate space at Denver International Airport in the event that bankrupt United Airlines is forced to reduce operations there. If not, Frontier officials have said they might consider opening a second hub elsewhere. The airline has discussed the second hub possibility with officials in S= t. Louis, where American airlines recently announced a major downsizing, and in Pittsburgh, where US Airways is involved in negotiations about the future of its operations there. Frontier is also considering a $300 million expansion on Denver's concourse A that would increase its operating costs. On Thursday, Frontier said it swung to a second-quarter profit of $10.9 million, or 36 cents per share, compared with a loss of $461,749, or 2 cents, a year earlier. The company was helped by a $15 million payment from the federal government to cover security fees. The carrier had revenue of $142.4 million, up from $111.8 million during the same period a year ago. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP