Allegiant Air has announced its service is expanding to 3 new cities with 22 new routes. Allegiant Air will be adding service for the first time to the cities of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Evansville, Indiana, and Sonoma, California. The new routes announced include service between the following city pairs:
- Austin, Texas – Albuquerque, New Mexico (starts June 2, 2016)
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Fort Lauderdale, Florida (May 26 to August 14)
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (May 26 to August 14)
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Knoxville, Tennessee (May 27 to August 15)
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Memphis, Tennessee (May 27 to August 15)
- Jacksonville, Florida – Columbus, Ohio (May 25 to August 13)
- Jacksonville, Florida – Asheville, North Carolina (May 27 to August 15)
- Jacksonville, Florida – Belleville, Illinois (May 27 to August 15)
- Jacksonville, Florida – Indianapolis (starts June 2)
- Las Vegas, Nevada – Sonoma, California (starts May 19)
- Las Vegas, Nevada – Albuquerque, New Mexico (starts June 2)
- Los Angeles, California (LAX) – Memphis, Tennessee (June 2 to August 14)
- Los Angeles, California (LAX) – Reno, Nevada (starts June 9)
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (May 19 to September 18)
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Toledo, Ohio (June 3 to September 26)
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Stewart, New York (June 16 to September)
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Stewart, New York (June 16 to September)
- New Orleans – Tulsa, Oklahoma (May 26 to October 16)
- Orlando, Florida (Sanford Airport) – Akron/Canton, Ohio (starts May 19)
- Orlando, Florida (Sanford Airport) – Wichita, Kansas (May 25 to August 13)
- Orlando, Florida (Sanford Airport) – El Paso, Texas (May 27 to August 15)
- Orlando, Florida (Sanford Airport) – Evansville, Indiana (starts June 2)
- Phoenix, Arizona (Mesa Gateway Airport) – Sonoma, California (starts May 26)
Allegiant Air safety concerns continue
Allegiant Air has repeatedly suffered from a high rate of emergency landings, flight delays, and aborted takeoff attempts. The Allegiant Air pilots union released a report stating that the airline’s approach to maintenance is not up to industry standards. Allegiant Air operates a fleet of around 80 aircraft. Allegiant has accused the union of portraying the airline as unsafe as a ploy to gain leverage in stalled contract negotiations. However, the sheer number of documented incidents don’t lie. Allegations of maintenance failures include lack of documentation of mechanic work performed, maintenance performed by mechanics with little experience on MD-80 aircraft type, and failure to follow proper maintenance procedures on redundant aircraft components. The airlines management has publicly stated that it’s focused on improving the safety image of the company.
image from allegiantair.com