Allegiant to expand service, add Hawaii

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Mar. 10--LAS VEGAS -- Allegiant Travel Company has signed an agreement to acquire six Boeing 757-200 aircraft. The introduction of the 757 aircraft will let Allegiant expand its leisure travel strategy into Hawaii with flights to be operated by Allegiant Air, LLC, its airline subsidiary, the company said.

Allegiant, which flies between Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and Orlando International Airport, plans to have two of the aircraft in service by year's end and four more by mid-2012.

Allegiant expects to spend between $75 million to $90 million through 2012 acquiring and preparing the fleet. The aircraft are equipped for long, overwater flights.

Allegiant is acquiring the fleet with the express purpose of serving Hawaii, a major leisure destination that it cannot serve with its MD-80 fleet. Allegiant Air expects to launch service to Hawaii once regulatory requirements have been met, the company said.

The company has not said what markets will receive the service.

"Hawaii is the most prominent U.S. leisure destination currently unserved by Allegiant, and our small city customers have been requesting this service," said Allegiant CEO Chairman Maurice J. Gallagher Jr.