Allegiant to Extend More than Two Dozen Seasonal Routes

EGLIN AFB — Allegiant Air plans to extend 29 seasonal routes to help meet soaring demand.

Flights are now on sale and will be extended through April 2021 instead of ending next February. They will connect cities such as Chicago, Boston and Las Vegas to Savannah, Georgia, San Diego, and Sarasota, Florida, according to the Las Vegas-based airline.

Extended seasonal routes to Chicago, Boston and Houston will include those via Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS).

Allegiant flies more than 450 routes across the United States. Each of the airline’s extended routes is scheduled to operate multiple times per week and will provide travelers with “ultra-low-cost” nonstop flight options, according to Allegiant.

Flight days, times and fares are available at Allegiant.com.

Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who is the liaison between the commission and the county's Airports Department, said local officials are excited that the airline industry overall is starting to bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis.

“I think some people are so reticent about flying, while others have embraced it,” Ketchel said. “I think the airlines have taken precautions so the spread of COVID is limited, if at all. Of course, we depend on Allegiant to bring tourists to our area.”

While Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport and airports around the nation saw large decreases in flights and travelers at the start of the pandemic earlier this year, the numbers have been increasing in more recent months, Ketchel said. She praised Airports Director Tracy Stage and his staff for their work to implement new safeguards for travelers during the pandemic.

In April, VPS saw a only a little more than 4,000 passengers for the entire month, while the month of July spiked to more than 150,000, Stage said.

Allegiant’s expansion of many seasonal routes “is a testament to the demand that’s there,” Stage said. “And all of the carriers – Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta and United – that operate out of VPS have taken significant cleaning protocols that have built the public's trust. The airport has also taken preventative measures to enhance the safety of passengers and employees.”

For example, the airport’s custodial teams apply a hospital-grade, virus-killing chemical throughout the airport every night, VPS has a mandatory mask policy, and social-distancing markers are found on the airport’s floors and seating areas, Stage said. Many of the numerous safety measures were implemented in March.

Stage said he expects all the work to protect passengers and employees will soon lead to the airport being accredited by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, which “will hold us accountable to a much higher standard.”

According to Allegiant, its extended seasonal routes to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Austin, Texas include:

Asheville, North Carolina via Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Grand Rapids, Michigan via Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)

Knoxville, Tennessee via McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).

The extended seasonal route to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona includes Santa Maria, California via Santa Maria Airport (SMX).

The extended seasonal routes to Nashville International Airport (BNA) in Tennessee include:

Bozeman, Montana via Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Fargo, North Dakota via Fargo International Airport (FAR)

Flint, Michigan via Bishop International Airport (FNT)

Sioux Falls, South Dakota via Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania via Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).

The extended seasonal routes to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in Massachusetts include:

Asheville, North Carolina via Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Sarasota, Florida via Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)

Knoxville, Tennessee via McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)

Destin via Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS).

The extended seasonal route to Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado includes Provo, Utah via Provo Airport (PVU).

The extended seasonal routes to William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Texas include:

Asheville, North Carolina via Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Punta Gorda, Florida via Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)

Savannah, Georgia via Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)

Knoxville, Tennessee via McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)

Destin via Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)

The extended seasonal routes to McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Nevada include:

San Diego, California via San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Tucson, Arizona via Tucson International Airport (TUS).

The extended seasonal route to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California includes Grand Rapids, Michigan via Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR).

The extended seasonal routes to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) in Illinois include:

Asheville, North Carolina via Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Punta Gorda, Florida via Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)

Savannah, Georgia via Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)

Knoxville, Tennessee via McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)

Destin via Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS).

The extended seasonal routes to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) in California include Boise, Idaho via Boise Airport (BOI) and Eugene, Oregon, via Eugene Airport (EUG).

———

Visit the Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) at www.nwfdailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.