Allegiant Announces New Base at LAX

Allegiant Airlines, known for its service from various smaller markets to leisure destinations on a bi or tri weekly basis has announced new service from Los Angeles International Airport beginning May 1st. The news comes as no surprise, as rumors of it have been floating around for almost a week now. We chose to wait till the official announcement.

It is certainly worthy to note, as LAX isn’t in the same category as other Allegiant bases, such as McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas), Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.. It has more congestion issues, and will induce non-leisure travellers as well as vacationers. It will offer the following routes:

1. Bellingham, Wash. (close to Vancouver) – begins May 2 with fares as low as $78* each way
2. Billings, Mont. – begins May 22 with fares as low as $69* each way
3. Des Moines, Iowa – begins May 24 with fares as low as $99* each way
4. Fargo, N.D. – begins May 23 with fares as low as $99* each way
5. Grand Junction, Colo. – begins May 1 with fares as low as $59* each way
6. McAllen, Texas – begins May 24 with fares as low as $99* each way
7. Medford, Ore. – begins May 1 with fares as low as $69* each way
8. Missoula, Mont. – begins May 2 with fares as low as $79* each way
9. Monterey, Calif. – begins May 3 with fares as low as $39* each way
10. Sioux Falls, S.D. – begins May 23 with fares as low as $99* each way
11. Springfield, Mo. – begins May 3 with fares as low as $99* each way
12. Wichita, Kan. – begins May 23 with fares as low as $99* each way

Allegiant uses a fleet of 150-seat MD-80 aircraft and has announced 25 new routes since August and plans a 21% capacity buildup in the second quarter. It has very low costs, and flies 41 used planes, rather than newer ones that would cost more money to purchase. It schedules flights only as often as it can fill 150-seats, and most routes are only served 2-4 times a week. When demand falls seasonally they reduce the frequency or temporarilly withdraw from a route.

“Allegiant has targeted more than 60 communities such as Elmira, N.Y.; Peoria, Ill; Fargo, N.D.; and Bellingham, Wash., that lack abundant, inexpensive air service. It concentrates on carrying travelers from these sites to destinations including Las Vegas; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Phoenix on nonstop flights, gaining a monopoly on the routes and avoiding competition with larger airlines.” – WSJ

The LAX move would seem to contradict that, but its choice of cities to serve from there indicates it is keeping to its basic philosophy, one that has served it well.