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StumbleLas Vegas-based Allegiant Air plans flights to Hawaii
Flying high: An Allegiant Air jet takes off from McCarran International Airport. Allegiant opened its doors in Las Vegas in 2001.
Friday, March 5, 2010 | 4:06 p.m.
Sun Coverage
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air is going to Hawaii.
The airline’s parent company, Allegiant Travel Co., today announced plans to acquire six Boeing 757-200 twin-engine jets that would have the range to reach the Hawaiian Islands from western cities the airline currently serves.
Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said several details of the company’s plans haven’t been determined, such as what routes would be served. Allegiant hasn’t identified what airports it would use in Hawaii and it’s unclear whether the airline would offer flights between Las Vegas and the islands.
Squyres said the timetable for developing service would be based on certifications and regulatory approvals, but she expects details would be announced within a few months.
Western cities currently on Allegiant’s map include Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Maria, Fresno, Monterey, Oakland and Stockton, Calif.; Medford, Eugene and Bend, Ore.; Bellingham and Pasco, Wash.; and Mesa, Ariz., in addition to Las Vegas.
A release issued by the company said the six 757s are from a single fleet operated by a European company and Allegiant would take delivery of two of the planes within the next two months with the intent of beginning Hawaii service by the fourth quarter. One other plane would be delivered in November and the fourth in January with their use to begin in the first half of 2011. The final two jets would be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2011 and in service by the first half of 2012.
The aircraft will come equipped for extended twin-engine operations required for long overwater flights.
The company plans to spend between $75 million and $90 million through 2012 acquiring the jets and preparing them for service. Company officials said that while Allegiant is capable of making the acquisition with available cash, it plans to finance a portion of the purchase.
Allegiant has been anxious to enter the Hawaii market but couldn’t do it with its MD-80 jets, which don’t have the range to fly to the islands.
“Hawaii is the most prominent U.S. leisure destination currently unserved by Allegiant and our small-city customers have been requesting this service,” Maurice Gallagher, chairman and CEO of the airline, said in a statement. “We are very optimistic about our ability to exploit the large third-party ancillary revenue opportunity we believe exists in Hawaii. We expect the sale of hotels, rental cars and many attraction and activities popular with Hawaii visitors will provide a very meaningful contribution to the success of the service.”
“The 757 is a new aircraft type for Allegiant but we otherwise see this program as consistent with our existing business model,” added Allegiant President Andrew Levy. “This transaction will enable Allegiant to extend to Hawaii its strategy of serving large leisure destinations from smaller cities with no existing nonstop service.”
Initially introduced in 1983 by Boeing, the 757 is one of the largest narrow-body commercial jets and capable of holding between 186 and 279 passengers. About 1,000 of the jets are in operation. Delta Air Lines currently has the largest 757 fleet.
The company said the acquisition of the 757s would not affect Allegiant’s efforts to buy more MD-80s. The airline currently operates 46 MD-80s and will have 52 in service by the end of 2010 in addition to the first two 757s.
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Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Cool. More options to visit Vegas with.
Californian here they come.
Comment removed by moderator. Contained vulgar language.
It would be nice if Allegiant offered competent service to the communitees they supposedly already serve. Make no mistake about it Allegaint has some corrupt business practices. If you miss your flight for any reason,without purchasing their trip flex (cancellation) insurance, which becomes invalid itself within twenty four hours of your flight, you have lost all of your money and no credit is given. Allegaint Airlines will not allow a customer to speak with a supervisor when their is a dispute or question with a reservation clerk. A supervior will call a customer back in two to three months and then the customer gets a real verbal beat down.
With Allegiants callous view of their customers this could be a factor in Maurice Gallager's donation of large amounts of money to UNLV. It is the customers money Allegiant derfrauded from their valued customers. Here comes Allegaint to bring some of the same to Hawaii.
Look out Southwest airlines.This is going to be like Kmart and Walmart.
Yeah, those Allegiant bastards...who are they to follow the same non-refundable ticket terms that all the other airlines follow? I mean geez -- it's like they expect paid passengers to actually show up for their reserved flights.
What are they thinking when they charge me $80 RT to Monterey next month? And I was really upset about paying $150 RT so my wife could visit her relatives in Grand Forks last year. I really should have spent the $600 for NW/Delta.
Now sarcasm aside - since making my last reservation, they have made their on-line system "suggestive sell" upservice charges more aggressively. And that does chafe me a little bit. But, it's still easily removed.
Also, don't EVER buy the trip insurance. One of your credit card providers most likely already provides some type of catastrophic insurance.
I love Allegiant, and I do purchase the extra flight change waiver thingy so I can change my flight last minute to fit my schedule. The flight attendants are always pleasant and fun.
Flying out of Vegas to Missoula, MT for $150 RT is a luxury.
Allegiant currently operates one of the oldest fleets in the US using the noisiest aircraft in existence. If you live over McCarran flight paths, those noisy jets you're hearing are Allegiant's and we can sue them under federal law to require 'hush kits' on all of their noisy, ancient MD 80's
another reason to avoid flying when possible. i retire later this year and wifey and i will drive anywhere in the continental USA, low gas prices willing. 21st century aviation is not what its cracked up to be. i will not miss the entire experience of driving to the airport, waiting in line, having the TSA and the CIA and the FBI looking at the bottom of your shoes and your luggage.
dipstick
I hear you but its for our safety.
To bad there are so many jackasses in this world.
Great, enjoy your flights on Ensign airline. Does anyone know what they pay their pilots ?
Southwest is the best in my book - miss your flight, you get a credit and in most cases are shuffled onto another (next) flight available... The folks generally speaking are great, nice, courteous, AND best of all - the rewards program is soooo easy. My family is back in Philly and I dont think I have paid for a flight in 3 years!! Get the SW Visa and its even better... I've never flown this airline but judging by the comments I dont think I ever will!
Vegasmana,
First off, the planes are fitted with the hush kits. Second, and I suppose it might be too much to ask of someone like you, try taking a look at the paint scheme. Duh..some of them are silver. American also operates MD-80s out of McCarran.
Also those "ancient" aircraft are no older than a lot of the fleets that also fly out of here. Go check your facts before you pop off ans show your ignorance.
Please keep running down one of the few bright spots in the local employment scene.
BTW can I sue you for noisy kids? At least the jets are doing something productive.
I'd like to try this airline someday to see for myself. Allegiant seems like Ryan Air in the UK/Europe judging by their prices and add-ons. What's this about Ensign air? I dislike the bastard and won't have anything to do with that Repub.