Allegiant Air just added 15 leisure routes for 2021 with a new shortest route that's under 200 nautical miles— here's the full list
- Ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air is adding 15 new routes to its network to new and existing destinations.
- Orange County, California and Las Vegas are the focus of the expansion with secondary markets including Grand Rapids, Michigan also seeing a boost.
- The new flights will launch in 2021, starting on February 11 and continuing until March 5.
Allegiant Air is growing across the US with 15 new routes coming in 2021 as the airline industry hopes to start fresh in the new year and on the path to profitability.
The routes will see Allegiant grow in existing markets and expand into new ones such as Orange Country, California and Spokane, Washington, undoubtedly boosting its brand recognition. Leisure travel is the main focus of the expansion as that's where demand is shifting and Allegiant already didn't have a strong business traveler following entering the pandemic.
Ultra-low-cost airlines such as Allegiant are expected to recover sooner than their full-service competitors since their route networks are leisure-oriented and cost structures are tighter than other airlines. Allegiant, specifically, has no international flights and serves Canada and Mexico via US border cities such as Bellingham, Washington and McAllen, Texas.
Allegiant is keeping with its traditional route structure that sees flights utilize the smaller airports on the peripheries of larger markets in order to keep costs down. Salt Lake City, for example, is served via nearby Provo, Utah while Phoenix is served via Mesa, Arizona and flight crews return to their home base every night so Allegiant doesn't have to pay for crew hotel rooms.
All flights will be operated by Allegiant's fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft including the A319 and A320. Each aircraft has all-economy seating with below-average legroom for a US carrier — though average for an ultra-low-cost carrier — at 30 inches of pitch.
Here's where Allegiant Air is flying in 2021.
Between Las Vegas and Spokane, Washington
Allegiant will begin flying between Las Vegas and Spokane, Washington on February 11, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
Spokane is a new market for Allegiant that will also start flights to Orange County in 2021. Both Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines currently serve the route between Sin City and Washington's westernmost cities, giving Allegiant some rare competition.
Between Las Vegas and Flint, Michigan
Allegiant will begin flying between Las Vegas and Flint, Michigan on March 4, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
Flint currently sees Allegiant service primarily to states in the Southeast including Florida and Tennessee. The route to Las Vegas will be the longest and furthest west offered by any airline at the airport with no other airlines currently serving it.
Between Las Vegas and Asheville, North Carolina
Allegiant will begin flying between Las Vegas and Asheville, North Carolina on March 4, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
Asheville is a regional base for Allegiant in the Southeast with service to states across the country from Texas to Massachusetts. The route to Las Vegas will be the longest and furthest west offered by any airline at the airport with no other airlines currently serving the route.
Between Orange County, California and Las Vegas
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Las Vegas on February 18, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
The route comes in at 197 nautical miles, making it the shortest scheduled route in Allegiant's network when it launches, according to Cirium data. It overtakes the Los Angeles-Las Vegas route, which comes in at 205 nautical miles, and the 225-nautical mile Fresno-Las Vegas route.
Allegiant will not be the only airline connecting the two cities, however, with Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JSX all slated to compete for business. And that's only between Orange County and Las Vegas as scores of airlines offer flights from nearby Long Beach, Los Angeles, Burbank, and Ontario to the Gambling Capital of the World.
Delta Air Lines also operated flights on the route until April 5, according to Cirium data, and may restore service as demand dictates.
Between Orange County, California and Provo, Utah
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Provo, Utah on February 12, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays. Provo is just south of Salt Lake City, offering a cheaper alternative to Salt Lake City International Airport while still providing direct flights to the ski slopes of the Mountain West.
No airlines directly compete with Allegiant on this route, though Delta Air Lines serves Orange County from Salt Lake City and Southwest Airlines plans to on March 11, 2021.
Between Orange County, California and Medford, Oregon
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Medford, Oregon on February 12, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
Medford is a popular Allegiant destination that sees service to cities across the American Southwest and West Coast. No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator.
Between Orange County, California and Grand Junction, Colorado
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Grand Junction, Colorado on February 12, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
Though not the most direct access point to the sky slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Grand Junction also sees Allegiant service from Mesa, Arizona; Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator.
Between Orange County, California and Boise, Idaho
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Boise, Idaho on February 12, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator.
Between Orange County, California and Missoula, Montana
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Missoula, Montana on February 18, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator.
Between Orange County, California and Reno, Nevada
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Reno, Nevada on February 18, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Thursdays and Sundays.
While a destination in its own right, Reno is also a gateway to popular Lake Tahoe. The route is currently unserved but regional carrier JSX has plans to launch service between the two cities on December 3 with four-times-weekly service on Embraer ERJ145 regional aircraft.
Between Orange County, California and Spokane, Washington
Allegiant will begin flying between Orange County, California and Spokane, Washington on February 18, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
Spokane is the newest destination in Allegiant's route network, along with Orange County. No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator.
Between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Newark
Allegiant will begin flying between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Newark on March 5, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
Grand Rapids is a growing Allegiant base with service across the country from coast to coast. United Airlines will be Allegiant's only competitor, offering daily service with regional aircraft and connections to airports across its network.
Between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Destin, Florida
Allegiant will begin flying between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Destin, Florida on March 5, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator.
Between St. Petersburg, Florida and Fargo, North Dakota
Allegiant will begin flying between St. Petersburg, Florida and Fargo, North Dakota on February 11, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator. Allegiant is among the largest operators in Fargo, offering flights to the Southeast, Southwest, and West Coast as far as Los Angeles.
Between Houston and Mesa, Arizona
Allegiant will begin flying between Houston and Mesa, Arizona on February 11, 2021. Offering twice-weekly service, flights will operate on Sundays and Thursdays.
Mesa is used by Allegiant as a gateway to Phoenix as both are located in the same valley. No other airlines currently serve the route, leaving Allegiant as the sole operator, but the airline will have to compete with Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, all of which serve a variation of the Phoenix-Houston route.