Allegiant begins service
Low-cost carrier offers routes from Milwaukee
Allegiant, the Las Vegasbased ultra low fare carrier, has begun flying new routes to Florida from Milwaukee.
As part of the new service, the airline is offering some one-way fares starting as low as $40. Flights must be purchased by Oct. 15 for travel by Dec. 31, and there is a limited number of the cheap seats available, Allegiant said in a statement.
The new, year-round flights began Friday from Mitchell International Airport. The flights will operate twice weekly. The new routes are:
» Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Fla., via Punta Gorda Airport (PGD).
» Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., via St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).
Allegiant is primarily focused on cost-conscious leisure travelers.
The airline essentially sells a base fare ticket and then charges for a la cart items such as early boarding, seat placement and checked bags. Once on board, snacks, beverages and even merchandise such as souvenirs are available for purchase with a credit card.
The business model allows travelers to customize and pay for only the services they want for their trip.
Allegiant also plans to launch routes to three additional cities in November: Phoenix, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Flight days, times and fares are available only at Allegiant.com.
Allegiant will be competing with other airlines with the new Milwaukee service but won’t be competing on the same routes.
For example, on the Tampa route, Southwest flies from Milwaukee to Tampa International Airport. Allegiant will fly to nearby Clearwater, Fla.
The business model has proven successful over time, but the airline has seen its share of growing pains, according to a newspaper investigation.
The airline is modernizing its fleet and converting to newer Airbus A320 aircraft from the aging MD-80 planes it has used since it entered the U.S. airline market.
The fleet conversion is scheduled to be complete in 2019.
Mitchell is owned and operated by Milwaukee County.