LOADING

Type to search

NEWS

Austin-Bergstrom to become base for low-cost carrier Allegiant

Share

Allegiant Travel Company has announced plans to establish a base of operations at the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.

The Las Vegas-based company will invest $75 million to establish the new base in Austin, creating at least 89 high-wage jobs and housing three Airbus A320 aircraft.

The company, which focuses on linking travellers in small-to-medium cities to popular leisure destinations, plans to begin its base operations in Austin on November 18, 2021.

“Austin has been a really exciting location for Allegiant — not only do leisure travellers appreciate having convenient access to the incredible music scene, cultural and historic attractions the community has to offer, but local residents have also flocked to our affordable, non-stop flights for their travel needs,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s senior vice president of revenue.

“It makes perfect sense to establish a permanent base in Austin, further establishing Allegiant as a hometown airline in a city we love and where we plan to grow. Having locally-based operations will mean opportunities for expanded hours, as well as more — and more frequent — flight offerings for visitors and locals alike.”

Located in Central Texas, the capital city of Austin is known for its live music, events and cultural arts — from visual art exhibits to film festivals — as well as dining and an abundance of outdoor activities.

“The announcement of Allegiant’s selection of Austin as a base city is just the kind of news our community and the tourism industry needs right now,” said Austin City councilwoman. Vanessa Fuentes, who represents District 2 — where Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is located.

“The potential for added flights will bring more travellers into the area and offer Central Texans extra options when it comes to their own travel plans. The airport is an economic driver in our local economy, and I’m excited to see growth and activity in the district and beyond during such a critical time.”

Allegiant began operations in Austin in October 2013 and currently offers 14 non-stop routes to destinations ranging from Bozeman, Montana, to Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Orlando and Las Vegas.

Airport statistics show that the airline has flown more than 1.1 million passengers through Austin over the past seven and a half years.

“We are excited for this investment in our community and the South Terminal’s ability to accommodate Allegiant’s growth,” enthused Mookie Patel, Austin-Bergstrom’s chief business and finance officer.

“Allegiant establishing Austin as a base provides strong economic support to Central Texas and even more convenient and affordable ways to travel.”

Unlike most other airlines, Allegiant operates an “out-and-back” network, with exclusively non-stop flights — meaning each day’s flying starts and ends at a base, rather than connecting traffic through busy hub airports.

The base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will bring additional flexibility for flight times and future route opportunities, as locally-based crew members return home nightly to Austin.

Allegiant, which employs more than 4,200 team members across the US, plans to immediately begin hiring pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and ground personnel to support the operations.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *