Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

Update

DENVER (AP) -- Frontier Airlines employees cheered the announcement that Republic Airways Holdings Inc. will fly its planes under the Frontier name and keep the Denver air carrier's popular "spokesanimals."

Frontier employees and family members gathered Tuesday morning in the conference center at Coors Field to hear the news. Some employees held stuffed versions of their favorite animals that grace the tailfin of Frontier planes.

Republic Airways bought Midwest and Frontier airlines last year and announced in January they would fly under a single name.

Some parts of the Midwest brand will remain. Their famous chocolate-chip cookies will be served on all flights, and Frontier is adding a plane with Wisconsin's state animal, the badger.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

_______________________________________________________

Original story

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Midwest Airlines name is going away.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. owns both Midwest and Frontier Airlines. It says it will begin using the Frontier name for the operations of both carriers.

Republic CEO Bryan Bedford says the Frontier brand is associated with low fares, and the Midwest name is not. Midwest was based in Milwaukee, which has become a hot spot of airline competition with both Southwest Airlines and AirTran.

Republic bought Midwest and Frontier last year. Frontier is based in Denver and is bigger than Midwest Airlines.

Bedford says travelers may see the Midwest name on some jets until October 2011. The company is also merging the frequent-flier programs of the two airlines.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)