Overview of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (IATA: TYR, ICAO: KTYR) is the primary commercial airport serving the greater Tyler, Texas metropolitan area. It is located approximately 6 miles south of downtown Tyler at 700 Skyway Blvd. The airport has two runways – a 7,000 ft runway and a 5,000 ft runway.
Tyler Pounds Regional offers daily nonstop flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on American Airlines and United Airlines, with a travel time of approximately 50 minutes. Delta Air Lines also provides daily nonstop service to Atlanta. Other carriers like Allegiant Air and Air Choice One offer seasonal leisure routes and regional connections.
Airlines Operating at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport
The major airlines offering scheduled passenger service from Tyler include:
- American Airlines – Daily nonstop flights to DFW Airport
- United Airlines – Daily nonstop flights to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston
- Delta Air Lines – Daily nonstop flights to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport
- Allegiant Air – Seasonal nonstop service to Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Air Choice One – Daily nonstop service to Shreveport Regional Airport
Nearby Airport Options
Though Tyler Pounds Regional Airport offers the most convenience for travelers in the immediate Tyler area, those willing to drive can access more flight options from nearby airports such as:
- Dallas Love Field – Located 88 miles west, offerings include Southwest Airlines and other low cost carriers.
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – A major hub 112 miles west of Tyler for American Airlines and other major domestic and international airlines.
Gregg County Airport in Longview
Located just 23 miles east of Tyler, Gregg County Airport (GGG) in Longview, Texas also offers commercial air service from carriers like:
- American Eagle – Daily flights to DFW Airport
- United Express – Daily flights to Houston Bush Intercontinental
- Air Choice One – Service to regional destinations like Jackson, TN
- Boutique Air – Connections to Dallas, Houston, Memphis and more
Tri-Cities Airport in Tennessee
For travelers coming from or going to east Tennessee, Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) in Blountville, TN (about 130 miles northeast of Tyler) offers nonstop flights on:
- American Airlines to Charlotte and Dallas/Fort Worth
- Allegiant Air seasonal routes to Destin and Punta Gorda, FL
Comparing Allegiant and Frontier Airlines
Though both are low cost carriers, Allegiant and Frontier have some key differences:
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Allegiant specializes in flights from small cities to leisure destinations like Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles and focuses on ancillary fees.
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Frontier is a ultra-low cost carrier with a route network concentrated more on major cities, a very low base fare but charges for all extras.
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Allegiant offers a larger carry-on bag, more legroom, and family-friendly amenities.
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Frontier has a reputation for more limited legroom in seating and cleansheet design of aircraft interiors.
Finding the Cheapest Frontier Fares
Though Frontier doesn‘t offer specific discounts on certain days, the cheapest fares are often found by:
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Booking early – sales sometimes offer deep discounts on flights booked 60-90 days in advance
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Traveling mid-week – Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often less expensive
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Comparing weekends – occasionally Sunday/Monday cheaper than Friday/Saturday
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Being flexible on dates – shifting travel by a day or two can reveal hidden low fares
Frontier‘s Route Network
Frontier Airlines currently flies to over 100 destinations in the United States including major hubs like Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Cleveland. They also serve popular vacation destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America for a total of over 115 cities across their network.
Frontier Service to Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Frontier does not currently offer any flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. However, they do serve Dallas Love Field, located within the city of Dallas itself. Frontier also flies out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which is about 200 miles south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
How Frontier and Southwest Airlines Compare
Though both are low-fare carriers, Frontier and Southwest have some key differences:
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Southwest operates over 750 aircraft vs Frontier‘s 100 aircraft fleet
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Southwest has more routes concentrated in the Southern and Western US while Frontier focuses more on the Midwest, East Coast.
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Southwest offers two free checked bags and flexible booking while Frontier charges fees for bags and changes.
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Frontier generally has pricier base fares than Southwest but offers amenities like seat selection.
Tyler‘s Proximity to Major Texas Cities
Though not right next door, Tyler does offer reasonable access to some of Texas‘ major metropolitan hubs:
- Dallas – 90 miles to the west of Tyler, about a 1.5 hour drive
- Houston – 150 miles to the southwest, around a 2.5 hour drive
- Austin – 200 miles south, approximately 3.5 hours by car
Smaller Cities Close to Tyler
For those looking to explore East Texas, Tyler is also relatively close to smaller cities like:
- Longview – 23 miles to the east
- Athens – 50 miles to the southwest
- Kilgore – 30 miles to the southwest
- Henderson – 50 miles to the southeast
Distance to Interstate 20 from Tyler
Tyler is located approximately 224 miles northeast of Interstate 20 along the optimal route. To reach I-20, the fastest drive is:
- Take TX-24 W and US-69 S out of Tyler
- Merge onto I-45 South outside of Corsicana
- Then merge onto I-20 heading west
The total drive time to span the 225 miles from Tyler to I-20 is approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes depending on traffic.
