The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is kicking off a record-breaking year -- thanks to Allegiant Air’s announcement Jan. 9 to offer nonstop flights to Sarasota, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina beginning in April. Both routes are new destinations that are not currently served by another airline, and brings the airport’s total nonstop destination count to an all-time high of 51.
This new count surpasses previous records set in 2005 and tied in 2017.
“This is a prime example of why the Indianapolis International Airport is one of the most connected midsize airports in North America,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “Since 2014, we’ve added 40 nonstop flights. That’s public value expressed in hard numbers –but realized tangibly in more people connecting to significantly more places from Indy.”
Allegiant’s Indy to Sarasota flight will operate year-round, and the Charleston nonstop flight will operate seasonally. Both flights will depart Indianapolis twice per week. The Charleston flight takes off April 6 and the Sarasota flight launches April 11.
Allegiant now offers 14 nonstop destinations from Indianapolis. In May, Allegiant launched its inaugural nonstop flights from Indy to Austin, Texas and seasonally to Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and launched its inaugural nonstop seasonal flight to Phoenix-Mesa in November.
“We’re so excited to announce Indianapolis’s only nonstop travel options to Charleston and Sarasota,” said Lukas Johnson, Allegiant senior vice president of commercial. “Indianapolis is a major city in our network and will soon be a base for Allegiant aircraft and crew. Indy becoming a base opens new opportunities with Allegiant: more flights, more frequency and the potential for more new routes. These two new destinations are just the start for a great future with Indianapolis International Airport and Allegiant.”
In addition to its rapid growth in the Indianapolis market over the past year, Allegiant’s investment in a $40 million plane and crew base will house two Airbus aircraft and create more than 60 high-wage jobs with operations beginning in February 2018.
The Indianapolis airport averages 145 daily flights seasonally and year-round, with the most West Coast connectivity in its history --- and connecting more than 8.5 million travelers each year to places throughout the world. The Indy airport averages more nonstop destinations than peer airports, and has a comparable and increasing international market presence.
