ALLEGIANT AIR ANNOUNCES NEW BASE IN LOS ANGELES
Airline to Launch Low-Cost Service May 1 from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
(Los Angeles, California – February 18, 2009) Low-cost airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company, today announced it will establish a new base in the world-class, leisure destination Los Angeles, with low-fare, nonstop jet service from Los AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX) beginning May 1.
Flying to/from America’s smaller cities, Allegiant plans to launch the new service with flights to LAX from 12 markets already served by the carrier:
- Bellingham , Wash. (Vancouver, B.C. area) – begins May 2
- Billings , Mont. – begins May 22
- Des Moines , Iowa – begins May 24
- Fargo , N.D. – begins May 23
- Grand Junction , Colo. – begins May 1
- McAllen , Texas – begins May 24
- Medford , Ore. – begins May 1
- Missoula , Mont. – begins May 2
- Monterey , Calif. – begins May 3
- Sioux Falls , S.D. – begins May 23
- Springfield , Mo. – begins May 3
- Wichita , Kan. – begins May 23
“We’re extremely pleased to add Los Angeles and the Southern Californiaregion to our growing roster of world-class leisure destinations,” Maurice J. Gallagher, Allegiant Air president and chief executive officer, said. “This is an exciting new market for our airline and our customers. We look forward to a successful relationship with the airport, area resorts and community leaders.”
"Allegiant Air has operated successfully in a very challenging aviation marketplace by attracting travelers with the right mix of service options and value," said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports.
To announce the new route, an online contest took place at the company’s website. Nearly 50,000 entries were made to guess the airline’s newest destination.
The self-proclaimed “Official Airline for Sunshine” will base two 150-seat, MD-80 series jet aircraft at LAX. This new base will serve as the sixth world-class, leisure destination for the Las Vegas-based airline, which also serves McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas), Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.
With the addition of Los Angeles, Allegiant Air currently provides nonstop scheduled service to 70 U.S. cities. The low-cost carrier provides nonstop service from 40 U.S. markets to Las Vegas, 12 markets to Los Angeles, 15 markets to Phoenix-Mesa, 30 markets to Orlando and 20 markets to the TampaBay area and from six markets to Fort Lauderdale. In addition to its scheduled service, the airline also operates charter service throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Through the company’s Allegiant Vacationsdivision, Allegiant will offer low-cost hotel packages with many premiere hotels in the Los Angeles and Southern California area, including: Sheraton Universal Hotel, Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, Marina del Ray Marriott and The Westin Los Angeles Airport. The company will provide low-cost car rental service through its partnership with Alamo Rent a Car.
Reservations can be made on the airline’s website at www. allegiantair .com ,through the airline’s Reservations and InformationCenter at (702) 505-8888or through professional travel agents. Those seeking employment information are encouraged to visit www.allegiantair.com/aaCareers.php.
About the Organizations
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Mesa, Orlando, Fla., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel related services.
Los Angeles World Airports is the Los AngelesCity department that owns and operates LAX, LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys airports (VNY).
