Allegiant Airlines Offers Vegas Trips From Nebraska

Low-fare leisure carrier Allegiant Airlines LLC will begin flights Feb. 1 between Lincoln and Las Vegas.

The twice-a-week service offers expansion potential, said John Wood, Lincoln Airport's executive director.

"If demand for this new service is as strong as I suspect it will be, there is a good chance we will be able to convince Allegiant to add additional flights," he said.

Wood also sees potential in the other popular vacation spot Allegiant serves: Orlando, Fla.

"If the Vegas thing ends up being success, we'd like to talk to them about Orlando service in the future," he said.

Allegiant provides flights from 28 cities to Las Vegas and from 14 cities to Orlando. Wood said he expects the Las Vegas flights to be popular.

"Las Vegas is a destination resort. Any time you can get service to a destination like that is good for the community," he said. "People in Lincoln and the area are going to have more choices to get there than they've had in the past."

An introductory fare of $69 each way is available through www.allegiantair.com until Dec. 31 for travel from Feb. 1 through May 31, except on some blackout dates. After the introductory period, regular fares will range from $89 to $199 each way. For $5 extra per segment, reservations also can be made by phone, (800) 432-3810.

Allegiant also offers air-and-hotel packages, such as $288 per person for three nights at the Four Queens Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Allegiant will join two other airlines at Lincoln Airport. United Airlines flies to Denver and Chicago, while Northwest Airlines provides flights to Minneapolis, Detroit and, for a few more weeks, Memphis, Tenn. Northwest announced last week that service to Memphis will end Jan. 3.

Service to Memphis, a Northwest hub, began May 15 with help from a $900,000 small-community air service grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Since then, loads have averaged 50 percent and revenue has fallen below targets, the airport said. Northwest also has entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reduced the number of aircraft in its fleet.

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