Allegiant Airlines Boosts Domestic US Offering

US leisure carrier Allegiant Air has announced plans to further expand its domestic US network during 2012 with the addition of new links from Orlando Sanford International to Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport in Maryland, Gary/Chicago International Airport in Indianapolis and Niagara Falls in New York. The airline will offer at least twice weekly flights on each of the routes using McDonnell Douglas MD-80 equipment.

Allegiant Air has expanded its network during the current year and in November reported a 6.4 per cent increase in passenger numbers on its scheduled routes, having increased available seat kilometers by 6.6 per cent during the same month, versus November last year. It has also recently agreed to purchase 13 McDonnell Douglas MD-80s from SAS Scandinavian Airlines for delivery in 2012 and 2013 to support its growth.

The new route to Gary Chicago International Airport, which serves the Northwest Indiana and the wider Chicago metropolitan areas will commence on February 15, 2012. The airport has had no direct scheduled services since ultra low-cost carrier Skybus Airlines suspended operations in April 2008. The same day, Allegiant Air will inaugurate flights to Niagara Falls International Airport, which will be served four times weekly. The airline last week introduced its first link to the joint civil-military public-use airport from St Petersburg-Clearwater.

“We're pleased to bring an affordable and convenient travel option to Gary and expand our options in Niagara Falls,” said Andrew C Levy, President, Allegiant Travel Company. “We are confident that the Gary community and residents of Niagara Falls and southern Ontario will appreciate flying non-stop to Orlando and take advantage of the great deals we offer on hotels, car rentals and theme park tickets.”

Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY) in Maryland, located on the Delmarva Peninsula, will be added to the Allegiant Air network from Orlando Sanford on February 16, 2012. The airport is the only commercial gateway on the Delmarva peninsula providing important connectivity to Salisbury, the largest city on Maryland's Eastern Shore.