Allegiant Air is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
low-costA low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
airlineAn airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
owned by
Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a
publicly traded companyThis is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization. The corporate headquarters is in
Enterprise, NevadaEnterprise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 14,676 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 78,488 in 2008...
, near
Las VegasLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
The airline also offers international vacation packages through its Allegiant Vacations affiliate.
Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, became an Allegiant focus city at
Gerald R. Ford International AirportGerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport located approximately southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Cascade Township. Originally called Kent County Airport and later Kent County International Airport; in December 1999 the airport was renamed for former resident Gerald R....
on April 27, 2010. However, on August 12, 2011, Allegiant announced it would discontinue the Grand Rapids base on October 31.
History
Allegiant was founded in 1997 under the name
WestJet Express. After a trademark dispute with West Jet Air Center of
Rapid City, South DakotaRapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
, and with the name's similarity to WestJet Airlines of
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the airline adopted the name Allegiant Air and received its
operating certificateOperating certificate is a category of license issued by a government agency allowing an individual or company to provide a controlled type of service. These certificates are generally issued for a limited time period...
for scheduled and charter domestic operations in 1998. The airline also has authority for charter service to
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Wholly owned by Allegiant Travel, the airline now has over 1,300 employees.
Scheduled service began on October 15, 1999, between Las Vegas and the airline's initial hub in
Fresno, CaliforniaFresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, at the
Fresno Yosemite International AirportFresno Yosemite International Airport , formerly known as Fresno Air Terminal, is a joint civil-military public airport located in eastern Fresno, in Fresno County, California. The airport is more than south of Yosemite National Park on California State Route 41. The airport covers and has two...
, with
Douglas DC-9-21The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
and DC-9-51 aircraft. Shortly after the shutdown of
WinAir AirlinesWinAir Airlines was a charter passenger airline in the United States based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in 1997, its first flight was a Super Bowl charter on January 25, 1998...
, Allegiant Air opened a hub in
Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, mirroring WinAir's network. Allegiant was unable to bring in enough revenue to cover its costs and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 13, 2000.
In June 2001, Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. joined the airline and soon became its President and
Chief Executive OfficerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
. Having formerly worked with WestAir and
ValuJet AirlinesValuJet Airlines was an American low-cost carrier, headquartered in unincorporated Clayton County, Georgia, that operated regularly scheduled domestic and international flights in the Eastern United States and Canada during the 1990s...
, Gallagher led the airline's transformation into its present form, moving the base to Las Vegas and focusing on smaller markets that larger airlines did not serve with mainline aircraft. From 2001, they have grown from 2 destinations to over 50 from Las Vegas,
Orlando/Sanford, FloridaSanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
, and St Petersburg, Florida.
In November 2006, Allegiant announced that it had filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in anticipation of a planned initial public offering of its Common Stock. It is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol "ALGT".
In July 2007, the airline announced plans to open a fourth
focus cityIn the airline industry, a focus city is a location that is not a hub, but from which the airline has non-stop flights to several destinations other than its hubs...
and operations base at
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway AirportPhoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport , formerly Williams Gateway Airport and Williams Air Force Base , is a commercial airport located in the southeastern area of the city of Mesa, Arizona, and southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the...
in
Mesa, ArizonaAccording to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, connecting the Phoenix metropolitan area to 13 destinations already served by Allegiant and one new destination. The airline began service out of its new focus city on October 25, 2007. The airport announced a 10000 square feet (929 m²) expansion in August 2008 which will increase the number of gates from two to four and allow Allegiant to triple the number of flights from Phoenix. The expansion will be funded by a loan from Allegiant which will be repaid by passenger fees.
In August 2007, Allegiant also announced plans to open its fifth
focus cityIn the airline industry, a focus city is a location that is not a hub, but from which the airline has non-stop flights to several destinations other than its hubs...
and make an operations base at
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International AirportFort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale...
, connecting the South Florida area to destinations already served by Allegiant. The airline began service in this focus city November 14, 2007.
In January 2008, Allegiant opened its sixth base at Washington's
Bellingham International AirportBellingham International Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of Bellingham, in Whatcom County, Washington, USA. The airport has a single runway. Due to the close proximity to British Columbia, the Bellingham International Airport functions somewhat as a reliever airport to...
. The airline is basing two
McDonnell Douglas MD-80The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80 series were lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 up to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.The MD-80...
aircraft in Bellingham as part of the expansion. Routes served exclusively from Bellingham include Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, and Phoenix. Expansion in Bellingham has been largely driven by its proximity to Vancouver, Canada.
Along with
Southwest AirlinesSouthwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
, the airline was the only major United States airline to make a
profitIn accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
in the first quarter of the oil-driven economic crisis of 2008.
Los Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
became Allegiant's seventh base.
In February 2010,
Orlando International AirportOrlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
became Allegiant's eighth base. Just nine months later and after careful evaluation of the routes operating out of Orlando International Airport, Allegiant, citing an inability to achieve a fare premium at MCO as anticipated, a strong passenger preference for
Orlando Sanford International AirportOrlando-Sanford International Airport is a public commercial air service airport in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. It was originally constructed as a military installation known as Naval Air Station Sanford that was in operation as a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance...
, higher costs at MCO than expected and a more efficient operating environment at SFB , announced the consolidation and return of its Orlando Area operations to Orlando Sanford International Airport.
In February 2010, Allegiant announced its ninth base at Grand Rapids'
Gerald R. Ford International AirportGerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport located approximately southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Cascade Township. Originally called Kent County Airport and later Kent County International Airport; in December 1999 the airport was renamed for former resident Gerald R....
. The airline is basing two
McDonnell Douglas MD-80The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80 series were lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 up to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.The MD-80...
aircraft in Grand Rapids as part of the expansion.
In March 2010, Allegiant announced the purchase of six used
Boeing 757The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
s as part of plans to begin flights to
HawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, with deliveries from spring of 2010 to the fourth quarter of 2011. They gained the approval of the FAA and NTSB for ETOPS status for 757 Hawaii flights in July 2011.
Headquarters
The corporate headquarters is in
EnterpriseEnterprise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 14,676 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 78,488 in 2008...
,
unincorporatedIn law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Clark County-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
,
NevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The building, in proximity to
Downtown Las VegasDowntown Las Vegas is the central business district of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the original gambling district of Las Vegas, prior to the Strip, and the area still incorporates downtown gaming.-Tourism:...
, is located in a business park that, as of 2010, is new. The building has no signage on the front stating that it is the headquarters of Allegiant, but the roof has the words "Allegiant" prominently visible from above. The facility's front desk is a replica of an MD-80 tail.
Business model
Allegiant operates a business model based on:
- Flights to airports which have limited or no service from mainline carriers
- Use of smaller/secondary airports, with the exceptions of McCarran International
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
(Las Vegas, NV), Los Angeles InternationalLos Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International AirportFort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale...
- Marketing to leisure passengers traveling to seasonal warm-weather destinations
- Generating ancillary revenues in addition to ticket revenue
- Maintaining low operational costs
Markets
Allegiant Air targets small cities with limited passenger airline service. Many of the airline's markets, such as
Peoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, are served only by commuter service requiring a connection at an airline hub. Allegiant, as of October 2009, has competition on only five of its 136 routes.
Other Allegiant destinations are secondary airports that are close to large metropolitan areas. For instance, Allegiant is the only carrier operating at
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway AirportPhoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport , formerly Williams Gateway Airport and Williams Air Force Base , is a commercial airport located in the southeastern area of the city of Mesa, Arizona, and southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the...
.
In February 2010, Allegiant announced it would begin service from Long Beach, California, but did not immediately disclose where it will fly. On July 1, 2010 Allegiant flew its first flight into Long Beach Airport. It will fly from
Bellingham International AirportBellingham International Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of Bellingham, in Whatcom County, Washington, USA. The airport has a single runway. Due to the close proximity to British Columbia, the Bellingham International Airport functions somewhat as a reliever airport to...
and
StocktonStockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
several times a week. On September 28, 2010, Allegiant announced it would begin service from
Bakersfield, CaliforniaMeadows Field is the primary airport serving the Greater Bakersfield metropolitan area, and one of two international airports in the San Joaquin Valley. Also known as Kern County Airport #1, it is located in Oildale, California, approximately northwest of Downtown Bakersfield. The airport is owned...
to McCarran starting November 17, 2010. This service has since been discontinued by the airline.
Routes
The airline's focus is on leisure travelers, particularly those in colder northern climates, going to warm-weather tourist destinations such as
Tampa BayTampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, Las Vegas, Orlando, or Phoenix. The airline offers a lower frequency of flights and no amenities such as frequent flier points or on-board entertainment. As a result, Allegiant carries few business passengers.
Revenues
The airline, which attracted investment from the Ryan family of Ireland, owners of
RyanairRyanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
, follows a similar model which seeks ancillary revenue in addition to ticket revenue. Allegiant earns ancillary revenue through sales of food, beverages, and souvenirs on board as well as charges for checking luggage and advance seat assignments. The airline also offers hotels, cars, show tickets, and tour packages on its website, which generates commissions. The airline sold 400,000 hotel room nights in 2008. As of October 2009, the St. Petersburg Times reported that ancillary revenues were $33.35 per passenger. The total contribution of hotel and rental car packages is up to one-third of the airline's revenue.
Regarding the airline's reliance on additional revenue, Allegiant CEO Maurice Gallagher stated in an article that appeared September 2009 issue of the business journal, "Fast Company", that the advantages of this pricing structure was psychological. He went on to say, "We collect $110 from you at the end of your trip. If I tried to charge you $110 up front, you wouldn't pay it. But if I sell you a $75 ticket and you self-select the rest, you will."
In February 2011, Allegiant announced that they have proposed a new idea for combating increasing ticket prices. The company made a proposal for selling two types of tickets to passengers. The first being a fixed fare at a higher rate and the second being one that is sold at a significantly lower price, but at the time of departure, fees can be added on based on the price of aviation fuel. Many passengers are in uproar about it, others are interested.
Charter information
Allegiant also operates air charters which contribute 7% of its revenue. The company has two contracts with
Harrah's EntertainmentCaesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
with two aircraft based at Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport to ferry customers to Harrah's casinos. Additionally, Allegiant has two aircraft based at
Tunica Municipal AirportTunica Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located east of the central business district of Tunica, a town in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States...
to support a charter contract to transport gaming customers to Harrah's casinos including Tunica and New Orleans. One additional aircraft is based in Wendover to support charters for Peppermill casinos. It also transports firefighters for the
United States Forest ServiceThe United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
and college basketball players and staff.
Allegiant had a contract to supply charter flights from Miami to four cities in Cuba. Flights began in June 2009. One aircraft was committed to the contract. The contract was for fixed-fee flying, meaning all they have to do is provide the dry aircraft and the flight crew. The contractor is responsible for all other costs including fuel. Allegiant ended this service in August 2009.
Costs
The airline tends to offer lower fares, which requires strict cost control. Part of the airline's lower cost structure includes operation of MD-80 jets, which the airline can purchase and refurbish for as little as $4 million. While the aircraft are less fuel-efficient than newer planes, Allegiant is able to purchase them outright for one-tenth the cost of a new
Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
. Given the low cost of ownership, Allegiant is able to fly the planes less (seven hours per day versus 13 hours per day at JetBlue), which helps keep labor costs lower. Overall, Allegiant operates with 35 full-time workers per plane compared to more than 50 at other carriers.
The airline seeks to maintain a low permanent operating cost at the airport. Allegiant rents ticket counters on an hourly basis and in
Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, and
Springfield, MissouriSpringfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, while many duties are handled by airport employees contracted to Allegiant.
The cost of ticket sales is reduced by selling tickets on its website and at airport ticket counters. The toll-free number was eliminated and Allegiant does not utilize internet travel agencies.
Criticism of the business model
Some airport officials have criticized Allegiant for shutting down routes or leaving markets quickly if they are not immediately profitable. In
Kinston, North CarolinaKinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
, the airport authority invested $60,000 in advertising Allegiant's routes and asserted that the load factor was 90% or better. They contend that the airline left the market when they did not earn enough ancillary revenue after only one year.
In
Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, the carrier departed in February 2007 after less than two months of daily flights to
St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
as loads started at 3/4 full and then dropped to half full by February. Allegiant returned to Columbia in February 2009, but pulled out again in late 2009.
The airport director in
Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, felt that Allegiant reneged on a commitment to serve the airport for five years given the use of federal grants to assist its startup. However, the airline replied that the market was immediately unprofitable and starting service there was a poor decision; flights were reported to be 80% full. Allegiant's flights average 90% full.
The US Department of Transportation also cited the airline in 2009 for not including their "convenience fee" in the initial price quote on the website.
Flight attendants at the carrier voted to organize their workgroup under the Transport Workers Union of America in December 2010, citing scheduling concerns among other issues in their work rules.
Allegiant Vacations
Allegiant Vacations functions as an in-house package vacation vendor. The company has arrangements with 34 hotel properties in Las Vegas and 21 in the
OrlandoOrlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, and
Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, areas. The vacations division also has partnerships with several rental car agencies and show-ticket vendors. At least for some routes, air travel must be purchased along with hotel accommodations—a two-night minimum stay in the case of Champaign, IL, to Las Vegas, NV, for example.
Destinations
Allegiant currently flies to 75 destinations throughout the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. With a few exceptions, all bookings are considered "one way" and begin or end at one of the nine focus cities/operational bases; therefore, travel reservations between any of the other cities must be reserved through separate bookings and checked luggage claimed and re-checked in one of the nine focus cities.
The airline may provide new service from Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT) in Wenatchee, Washington, according to the airport manager.
Allegiant Air is actively pursuing the opportunity to serve
Paine FieldPaine Field, also known as Snohomish County Airport is a public airport located in unincorporated Snohomish County, between Mukilteo and Everett, Washington...
(PAE) in
Everett, WashingtonEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, (25 mi (40.2 km) north of Seattle). The company has filed a complaint with the FAA at the county's opposition to the plan. Additionally, Allegiant Air is also very interested in serving
Salem, OregonSalem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
-- conversations are continuing.
On February 1, 2010, Allegiant began operations at
Orlando International AirportOrlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
(MCO). The company moved one half of its Orlando schedule to Orlando International Airport in order to test revenue streams at the higher cost airport. After evaluating the routes out of Orlando International, the carrier decided to consolidate and return its Orlando area operations at the original Orlando Sanford International Airport base citing an inability to achieve a fare premium at MCO as anticipated, a strong passenger preference for Orlando Sanford International Airport, higher costs at MCO than expected and a more efficient operating environment at SFB.
Fleet
As of September 10, 2010 the Allegiant fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 20.6 years, all equipped with an all-
economy__FORCETOC__Economy class, also called coach class , steerage, or standard class, is the lowest class of seating in air travel, rail travel, and sometimes ferry or maritime travel....
seating:
Allegiant Air fleet
| Aircraft |
In Fleet |
Orders |
Passengers |
Notes |
| Boeing 757-204 |
4 |
2 |
217 |
1 in service, 3 leased out until mid-2012 to Jet2 Holidays and Air Finland Oy Air Finland Ltd. is an airline with its head office and base at Helsinki Airport in Vantaa, Finland, operating chartered and scheduled flights to holiday destinations, as well as aircraft lease services. - History :...
2 more to be delivered in late 2011. |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 |
22 |
13 |
150 |
Orders are ex-Scandinavian Airlines |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 |
35 |
0 |
150 |
|
| McDonnell Douglas MD-87 |
8 |
0 |
130 |
|
| McDonnell Douglas MD-88 |
9 |
0 |
150 |
|
| Total |
80 |
15 |
|
|
At May 2010, the average age of the Allegiant Air fleet is 20.1 years.
Allegiant Air is the only US-based carrier to operate all five subtypes of the MD-80 series.
On January 4, 2010, the
SAS GroupScandinavian Airlines System Aktiebolag , trading as SAS Group and SAS AB, is a holding company based in Solna, Sweden. It is the parent company of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1 and Widerøe, and the aviation services companies SAS Business Opportunities, SAS Cargo Group, SAS Ground...
announced the sales of 18 surplus MD-80 series aircraft to Allegiant Travel Company. The aircraft were built from 1985 to 1991. Allegiant's smaller MD-87's are currently used almost exclusively for charters, meaning that all scheduled MD-80 flights have 150 seats.
On March 5, 2010, Allegiant announced the purchase of six Boeing 757-200 aircraft from
Thomson AirwaysThomson Airways is the world's largest charter airline, offering scheduled and charter flights from the UK to destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. The company commenced operations on 1 November 2008, following the merger and subsequent re-branding of Thomsonfly and First...
for flights to
HawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
with the delivery of the first two in the following months. As of September 1, 2011, Allegiant Air has introduced 757 service from their Vegas hub to both Rockford, IL, and McAllen, TX. The 757 will be used for service to Hawaii from yet unannounced cities.
Awards/recognition
- Forbes Magazine
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
: America’s 100 Best Small Companies: Listed at 33
- Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
's (FAA) Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Diamond Award of Excellence: 2009 and August 2010
- Fortune 100's Fastest Growing Companies: Listed at 25
- Aviation Week: Top Performing Low Cost Carrier
External links