Frontier Airlines isn't dead yet, but Thursday's announcement that the carrier was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection means the prognosis isn't good. And that’s a real shame. The airline with the quirky animal motif, snarky onboard safety announcements, roomier seats, and Direct TV in every seat is a beloved Denver institution.

If you want a direct flight from DIA to anywhere in the U.S., you basically have two choices: United and Frontier. United represents the large, slow-moving, behemoth that could give a rat's ass whether you get to your destination on time. Of the four times I've flown United in the last year, flights were either significantly late or cancelled each time. None of the delays or cancellations was due to weather.

As we pulled back from the gate on one particular United flight last summer, the pilot announced that the crew had suddenly discovered a part missing on the wing – and that they missed it during the first maintenance check because the hole left by the missing part had been painted over.

Frontier, on the other hand, was more reliable and didn't treat customers like cattle, offering better seats, satellite television, and more. Sure they were delayed on occasion, but they always took a gee, we're so sorry, what can we do to make it up to you attitude.

Let's hope they don't have to take those cute little animals out back and put them down. The disappearance of Frontier would make travel less convenient for all Denverites.