Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (ULCC) stock skyrocketed 16.31% in intraday trading on Tuesday, leading a broad rally in airline stocks. The surge comes in response to data showing a significant increase in U.S. airline fares, boosting investor optimism about the sector's profitability.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. airline fares jumped 4% in July, marking the largest monthly increase in over three years. This substantial rise follows a slight decline of 0.1% in June, indicating a robust rebound in pricing power for the airline industry. The unexpected surge in airfares suggests strong travel demand and improved revenue prospects for airlines, particularly benefiting low-cost carriers like Frontier.

The positive sentiment spread across the airline sector, with other major players also seeing significant gains. JetBlue Airways rose 9%, while American Airlines and Alaska Air both climbed 8%. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines followed with increases of 7% and 6% respectively, while Southwest Airlines gained 4%. The industry-wide rally underscores investor confidence in the airline sector's recovery and growth potential, with Frontier Group Holdings emerging as the day's standout performer.