Allegiant grows fast in small cities, but will…


EVANSVILLE, Ind. Bob Whitmer was ecstatichis hard work had paid off.

It was 2011, and he had just shepherded through a runway extension and other improvementsat Owensboros airport in western Kentucky.

Representatives of the low-cost carrier Allegiant were flying into town to tell Whitmer, the airport director, that Owensboro had landed flights to Las Vegas.

This is a dream come true for Owensboro! he gushed in a news release touting the services launch alongside existing flights to the Orlando area.

But six months later,amid prohibitivefuel costs, that dream ended when Allegiant announced it was pulling its Las Vegas route.

As Evansville celebrates the arrival and rapid expansion of Allegiant service, words of caution abound that the routes may be short-lived. Perhaps no entity is more honest about that than Allegiant itself. The airlines rallying cry to the communities it serves: Use it or lose it.


Allegiants pretty agile, said Kristen Schilling-Gonzales, the airlines director of planning. Were monitoring every flight. Were looking at every route we operate on a monthly basis, quarterly basis, even more than that.

Allegiant is unique in that even seemingly successful service sometimes finds itself on the chopping block.

32 COOL AVIATION PICS: Disney- and Dodgers-themed jets, 747s and more(story continues below)

FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn32 cool aviation pics: Disney- and Dodgers-themed jets, 747s and more FullscreenPost to FacebookPosted!


A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Westjet's 'Frozen' themed Disney jet departs Vancouver Westjet’s ‘Frozen’ themed Disney jet departs Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 15, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenCargo jets for UPS, top, and FedEx, bottom, trade places Cargo jets for UPS, top, and FedEx, bottom, trade places at Anchorage International Airport on Dec. 3, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenOutfitted for marine surveillance, a Canadian Government Outfitted for marine surveillance, a Canadian Government Dash-8 departs Vancouver International Airport in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA gaggle of partially completed Boeing KC-46 tankers A gaggle of partially completed Boeing KC-46 tankers awaits their fate while parked at Paine Field near Everett, Wash., in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Pacific Coastal Beech 1900D taxis in to a small domestic A Pacific Coastal Beech 1900D taxis in to a small domestic terminal at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 15, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenAn Augusta Westland 139 helicopter lands at Vancouver An Augusta Westland 139 helicopter lands at Vancouver International Airport on Dec 15, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenSnow covers a Cessna seaplane on a very cold day at Snow covers a Cessna seaplane on a very cold day at the Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage, Alaska, in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 departs Vancouver International A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 departs Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 15, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 takes off for London A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 takes off for London from San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA KD Air Piper Navajo Chieftan taxies to a gate after A KD Air Piper Navajo Chieftan taxies to a gate after landing at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 15, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenAn Alaska/Horizon Bombardier Q400 painted in an Oregon An Alaska/Horizon Bombardier Q400 painted in an Oregon Ducks livery taxis for departure as a Virgin America Airbus A319 takes off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Dec. 24, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenAn Air Canada Boeing 777-300 departs Vancouver International An Air Canada Boeing 777-300 departs Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 15, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenPilots aboard a UPS Boeing 747 don Santa hats as they Pilots aboard a UPS Boeing 747 don Santa hats as they ready for a flight across the Pacific on Dec. 3, 2016 in Anchorage, Alaska.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA China Eastern Airbus A330 takes off from Vancouver A China Eastern Airbus A330 takes off from Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 15, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenAn Air China Boeing 747-400 lands at Anchorage International An Air China Boeing 747-400 lands at Anchorage International Airport on Dec. 3, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Saudi Arabian Boeing 777-300 delivers from Paine A Saudi Arabian Boeing 777-300 delivers from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., on Dec. 24, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenThe winter holiday travel season was one of the busiest The winter holiday travel season was one of the busiest ever in 2016-17. Here crowds pulse through Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Jan. 4, 2017.  Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAYFullscreenAn unfinished Boeing 747-8 rests outside at Paine Field, An unfinished Boeing 747-8 rests outside at Paine Field, near Everett, WA, in December of 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenThe Caribbean Sea and Mexico's Yucatan coastline as The Caribbean Sea and Mexico’s Yucatan coastline as seen from American Airlines Flight 886 from Cancun to Charlotte.  Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAYFullscreenJets at one of San Francisco International Airport's Jets at one of San Francisco International Airport’s international concourses in October 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Centurion Cargo Boeing 747-400 takes off from Anchorage A Centurion Cargo Boeing 747-400 takes off from Anchorage International Airport in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenAn Emirates Airbus A380 departs for Dubai from San An Emirates Airbus A380 departs for Dubai from San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA United Airlines Boeing 777-300 takes off on a delivery A United Airlines Boeing 777-300 takes off on a delivery flight from Paine Field, near Everett, Wash,, in late December, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Korean Air Boeing 777-300 lands at Seattle-Tacoma A Korean Air Boeing 777-300 lands at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Dec. 24, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Hawaiian Airbus A330 takes off from Seattle-Tacoma A Hawaiian Airbus A330 takes off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Dec. 24, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA China Airlines Cargo Boeing 747 takes off from Anchorage A China Airlines Cargo Boeing 747 takes off from Anchorage International Airport in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA rare Everts Air Cargo Douglas DC-6 lands at Anchorage A rare Everts Air Cargo Douglas DC-6 lands at Anchorage International Airport in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Cargolux Boeing 747-8F freighter jet lands at Anchorage A Cargolux Boeing 747-8F freighter jet lands at Anchorage International Airport on Dec. 4, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA Lynden Air Cargo Lockheed C-130 makes an aggressive A Lynden Air Cargo Lockheed C-130 makes an aggressive landing approach to Anchorage International Airport in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenAn EVA Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter lands at An EVA Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter lands at Anchorage International Airport in December 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenPurples, pinks, and blues roll over the mountains of Purples, pinks, and blues roll over the mountains of Alaska, seen from a Delta Air Lines flight on Dec. 4, 2016.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAYFullscreenA USA TODAY newspaper sits on a first-class seat of A USA TODAY newspaper sits on a first-class seat of an American Airlines A319 for a flight from Charlotte to Cancun, Mexico, on Dec. 30, 2016.  Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAYFullscreenLike this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:ReplayWestjet's 'Frozen' themed Disney jet departs Vancouver1 of 32Cargo jets for UPS, top, and FedEx, bottom, trade places2 of 32Outfitted for marine surveillance, a Canadian Government3 of 32A gaggle of partially completed Boeing KC-46 tankers4 of 32A Pacific Coastal Beech 1900D taxis in to a small domestic5 of 32An Augusta Westland 139 helicopter lands at Vancouver6 of 32Snow covers a Cessna seaplane on a very cold day at7 of 32A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 departs Vancouver International8 of 32A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 takes off for London9 of 32A KD Air Piper Navajo Chieftan taxies to a gate after10 of 32An Alaska/Horizon Bombardier Q400 painted in an Oregon11 of 32An Air Canada Boeing 777-300 departs Vancouver International12 of 32Pilots aboard a UPS Boeing 747 don Santa hats as they13 of 32A China Eastern Airbus A330 takes off from Vancouver14 of 32An Air China Boeing 747-400 lands at Anchorage International15 of 32A Saudi Arabian Boeing 777-300 delivers from Paine16 of 32The winter holiday travel season was one of the busiest17 of 32An unfinished Boeing 747-8 rests outside at Paine Field,18 of 32The Caribbean Sea and Mexico's Yucatan coastline as19 of 32Jets at one of San Francisco International Airport's20 of 32A Centurion Cargo Boeing 747-400 takes off from Anchorage21 of 32An Emirates Airbus A380 departs for Dubai from San22 of 32A United Airlines Boeing 777-300 takes off on a delivery23 of 32A Korean Air Boeing 777-300 lands at Seattle-Tacoma24 of 32A Hawaiian Airbus A330 takes off from Seattle-Tacoma25 of 32A China Airlines Cargo Boeing 747 takes off from Anchorage26 of 32A rare Everts Air Cargo Douglas DC-6 lands at Anchorage27 of 32A Cargolux Boeing 747-8F freighter jet lands at Anchorage28 of 32A Lynden Air Cargo Lockheed C-130 makes an aggressive29 of 32An EVA Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter lands at30 of 32Purples, pinks, and blues roll over the mountains of31 of 32A USA TODAY newspaper sits on a first-class seat of32 of 32AutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext Slide


That’s because Allegiant’s low-cost fares are dependent upon its ability to up-sell customers on everything from seat selection to hotel rooms. Jets full of frugal passengers who paid for their flights, but nothing else, end up costing the airline money.

In regulatory filings, the company said it averages expenses ofabout $100 per passenger per flight, or $200 round trip. As an airline that routinely offers round trip fares as low as $100 on flights, Allegiant needs to sell customers rental cars and tickets to events to make those routes profitable.


If you took just our airfares alone, that doesnt cover our costs. Thats honest, Schilling-Gonzales said. So we do offer ancillary products as a way to let customers customize their vacations.

Et tu, Allegiant?

Few airlines tweak their route maps as frequently as Allegiant. While legacy carriers, such as American, Delta and United, are more apt to play the long game when it comes to allowing new routes to perform, Allegiant opts for a different approach.

Take Owensboro. At one point, Allegiant flew four round-trip flights per week between Orlando and Owensboro, as well as the twice-weekly Las Vegas flight.


“We were very elated that we had non-stop flights to two of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States,” Whitmer said. “It was a very attractive offering we had at our airport. We were extremely pleased.”

Today, Allegiant only flies twice-weekly Orlando flights.

While Allegiant still serves Owensboro, there are plenty of other airports including Casper, Wyo.; Akron-Canton, Ohio; and Youngstown-Warren, Ohio, where Allegiant has departed completely.

When Allegiant left Casper, “they never issued a news release,” Airport Director GlennJanuska said. “They took the service out of the schedule, and I think the only way people would have known that the service was going to be discontinued was they went to book a flight and noticed, ‘Hey, wait a minute. Casper isn’t there anymore.'”


A similar situation happened at Akron-Canton, where Allegiant also abruptly pulled its flights.

Marketing Director Lisa Dalpiazsaid Akron-Canton was “disappointed in Allegiant’s decision.”

At Youngstown-Warren, which lies between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Allegiant in its trademark honesty “told us, straight up, we can make more money at the larger airports,” Aviation DirectorDan Dickten said.

IN PICTURES: 30 cool aviation photos(story continues below)

FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedInOctober’s #avgeek photo gallery FullscreenPost to FacebookPosted!


A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

With iconic Mt. Rainier forming a dramatic backdrop, With iconic Mount Rainier forming a dramatic backdrop, a Virgin America Airbus A320 lands at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in September of 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenThe soft yellowish-gold glow of Washington DC's Reagan The soft yellowish-gold glow of Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport ceiling greets visitors arriving to the nation’s capitol in May of 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenStar Wars characters R2-D2 and C-3P0 pose with All “Star Wars” characters R2-D2 and C-3P0 pose with All Nippon Airways’ R2-D2-themed Boeing 787-9 at a ceremony in Everett, Wash., on Sept. 12, 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenC-3PO and R2-D2 pass by the engine of a Boeing 787 C-3PO and R2-D2 pass by the engine of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner while welcoming a Star Wars-themed jet to ANA’s fleet on Sept. 12, 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenA brand-new Cargolux Boeing 747-8 cargo jet takes off A brand-new Cargolux Boeing 747-8 cargo jet takes off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., on Sept. 13, 2015, for a test flight.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenA rare Boeing 727, operating a sports charter for a A rare Boeing 727, operating a charter for a Major League Baseball team, takes off from Boeing Field in Seattle in September of 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenA Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-300 taxies into the gate A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-300 taxis to the gate on a rainy afternoon in December 2014.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenHeading out for a test flight, an Avianca Cargo Airbus Heading out for a test flight, an Avianca Cargo Airbus A330 Freighter is towed to position via a tug at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, in December 2014.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenWith its distinctive architecture, Doha's Hamad International With its distinctive architecture, Doha’s Hamad International Airport is abuzz with activity despite the 3 a.m. local hour in December of 2014.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenAn Emirates Airbus A380 superjumbo taxies to the gate An Emirates Airbus A380 superjumbo taxis to the gate after landing in Houston in December 2014.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenAn American Airlines Boeing 737-800 departs Phoenix An American Airlines Boeing 737-800 departs Phoenix Sky Harbor in January of 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenCessna's trade places on a taxiway at Paine Field in Cessnas trade places on a taxiway at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., in February of 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenF-18 Growler fighter jets practice carrier landings F-18 Growler fighter jets practice carrier landings at a remote landing strip on Whidbey Island in Washington State in March of 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenANA's R2-D2-themed Boeing 787 Dreamliner after it emerged ANA’s R2-D2-themed Boeing 787 Dreamliner after it emerged from a Boeing hangar in Everett, Wash., on Sept. 12, 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreenAn unfinished nose of a 777-300, seen during a tour The unfinished nose of a 777-300, seen during a tour of Boeing’swidebody jet factory inEverett, Wash., onJune 1, 2015.  Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAYFullscreen

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.