Frontier Airlines unveiled a new plane at Orlando International Airport (MCO) featuring SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium’s Ted the Turtle on Monday. Together with Visit Orlando, SEA LIFE Orlando and Frontier Airlines partnered for an in-terminal flight celebration to promote animal conservation and visitation to the Orlando region.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ted the Loggerhead Sea Turtle to our fleet,” said Tyri Squyres, vice president of marketing at Frontier Airlines. “All Frontier plane tails feature an animal with a unique name and backstory, many of them from endangered or threatened species. We’re proud to partner with Visit Orlando and wonderful facilities like SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium to highlight animal conservation in the greater Central Florida area.”

In 2021, SEA LIFE Orlando’s Ted the Turtle won Frontier Airlines’ ‘Who is Orlando’s Most Loved Animal’ promotion resulting in the honor of the animal’s likeness to be featured on a new aircraft. Ted garnered the most votes between Central Florida Zoo’s Ella, the Florida black bear; Gatorland’s Larry, the American alligator; and Wild Florida’s Flurry, the albino hatchling alligator.

“SEA LIFE Orlando is excited to partner with Frontier on this amazing opportunity,” said Kayla Cristell, lead aquarist at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. “It’s a unique honor for Ted, our beloved SEA Turtle, to be recognized as Orlando’s most loved animal. Our partnership represents a mutual commitment to telling the stories of incredible animals, and bringing conservation awareness and education to the public.”

Monday’s in-terminal celebration at MCO featured a seaweed ribbon-cutting ceremony, photo opportunities with ‘Sharky’ from SEA LIFE and exciting giveaway prizes for passengers, concluding with a water canon salute as the plane departed for Trenton, New Jersey.

“As the likeness of Orlando’s Ted the Turtle takes flight on the new Frontier Airlines plane, we hope his story inspires travelers to visit the now famous loggerhead turtle here in Orlando and learn more about conservation and animal rescue efforts throughout our destination,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO, Visit Orlando. “We are grateful for Frontier Airlines’ commitment to raising awareness for animals like Ted and programs working to preserve Florida animal species.”

SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium’s Ted, the loggerhead turtle, is a rescue turtle who was released multiple times back into the wild, however he was not displaying behavior consistent with survival on his own. Hence, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium became his forever home. Ted’s name is an acronym for Turtle Excluder Device. TEDs are escape hatches in fishing nets that allow turtles to escape if they are accidentally trapped. Ted, the sea turtle, was one of the first turtles to test the TED device and played an important role in pioneering technology to help protect the endangered sea turtle species.

Each attraction facility that participated in the contest provides Orlando visitors the opportunity to view Florida wildlife and learn about programs designed to protect them. Consumers who voted during the promotion were entered into a drawing to win free flights on Frontier, which operates more nonstops from Orlando than any other airline.

As the destination celebrates animal conservation in Orlando, travelers can visit Ted the Turtle at SEA LIFE Aquarium during their next Orlando vacation by taking advantage of Frontier Airlines’ exclusive Friends Fly Free sale, launching today. Discount Den® Members who buy one Discount Den Fare will get one free to Orlando. To qualify, the purchase must be made by Dec. 13, 2022, travel between Jan. 4 - Feb. 28, 2023, and use promo code: FLYFREE. This exclusive promotion is valid on select dates and routes. Other terms and conditions may apply.