Airline heading here adds 2 cities

Aug. 17, 2007

Allegiant targets South Florida, Phoenix markets

Low-fare airline Allegiant Air plans to establish bases at two new leisure destinations - Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

But the Las Vegas-based carrier isn't saying yet which cities will receive the new nonstop service.

Allegiant plans to launch the new service to Phoenix-Mesa from 13 markets it already serves beginning Oct. 25. On Nov. 14, Allegiant will begin nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale from 12 markets, 11 of which already have Allegiant service.

Allegiant said last month that it will start nonstop service to Las Vegas from Huntsville International Airport on Sept. 21, using 150-seat MD-80 jets. The flights between Huntsville and McCarran International Airport will operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays.

Allegiant Air is a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Co., which is based in Las Vegas.

The first route will be announced and available for purchase next Thursday, and all routes will be announced before the end of September. A clock on the company's Web site (www.allegiantair.com) will provide a countdown to each new city announcement.

"We're extremely pleased to add both sunny South Florida and Arizona to our growing roster of world-class vacation destinations," Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., Allegiant Travel president and CEO, said in a news release. "These two new markets will give our customers even more opportunities to enjoy a convenient, low-cost and sunny vacation getaway."

Allegiant will base 130-seat, MD-80 jets at Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa and 150-seat jets at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. With the addition of these two new bases, the airline will serve five leisure destinations, including McCarran in Las Vegas and Orlando Sanford International Airport and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in Florida.