"Our research shows that customers increasingly want affordability and convenience when they fly," Allegiant CCO Drew Wells said in a press release. The company said the large network expansion was driven by Allegiant's "commitment to providing ultra-low-cost airfare to underserved communities with limited or no air service."
These routes aren't necessarily flashy, but they'll likely help rural communities seeking better nonstop connections to more cities across the US. For example, residents of Colorado Springs will be able to connect to Phoenix, Orange County, California, and St. Petersburg, Florida, on Allegiant instead of driving 72 miles to Denver or requiring a one-stop connection from the small town's local airport.
Breeze Airways' CEO David Neeleman told Business Insider in November that overlapping too many routes has been a pitfall of budget rivals Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines. These airlines have overhauled their businesses this year to better meet flyer expectations and have largely focused on bigger markets to compete with mainline airlines.
However, Neeleman said they should seek more business in underserved areas - like Breeze and Allegiant do. New routes could help drive down mainline prices, especially since a handful will share a market with carriers like United Airlines.
Collection
[
|
...
]