Allegiant Air Announces New, Nonstop Air Service Between Columbia and Ft Lauderdale
March 31, 2009
AIRLINE CELEBRATES WITH INTRODUCTORY $ 29* FARES
COLUMBIA, SC _ March 31, 2009 – Columbia, S.C. will soon have yet another way to get to the sun as Allegiant Air, announces new, nonstop jet service to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. from Columbia Metropolitan Airport beginning May 27 . The low-fare carrier will celebrate the convenient new service to sunny South Florida with introductory fares as low as $29* each-way. This is the second low-cost, nonstop route that Allegiant will fly to from Columbia; the airline began flying to Orlando, Fla. Feb. 25.
“We are extremely pleased to again expand the Allegiant brand of low-fare, nonstop jet service to the Columbia community” Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., president, CEO and chairman for Allegiant Air, said. “This is an exciting new addition for our airline and our customers as we celebrate yet another way to get to the sun of Florida and launch the only scheduled service between Columbia and Fort Lauderdale.”
The new flights will operate two times weekly, with service Wednesday and Saturday . Flights will depart the Columbia Metropolitan Airport at 6:55 p.m. arriving in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at 8:25 p.m . Flights leaving Fort Lauderdale will depart at 4:40 p.m. arriving in Columbia at 6:15 p.m. (all flight times are local.)
“I am very pleased with Allegiant’s announcement to begin Fort Lauderdale service just months after beginning their new service to Orlando Sanford,” Mike Flack, Executive Director of Columbia Metropolitan Airport, said. “With spring travel plans upon us and summer travel around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better. Allegiant is providing our community with a great opportunity for affordable vacations that I hope our travelers will take advantage of.”
Fort Lauderdale offers the ultimate escape to sunny South Florida, with miles of blue waterways, soft golden sand and gentle ocean breezes. Located in the center of South Florida’s Gold Coast, 40 miles from Palm Beach and 25 miles from Miami, Fort Lauderdale stretches from Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach in the north to Hollywood and Hallandale Beach in the south. The area offers 300 miles of navigable inland waterways and 44,000 resident yachts, making it recognized as the “Yachting Capital of the World” and the “Venice of America.” From the Blue Wave beaches, to the yacht-filled waterways, to the exotic Everglades, every visit is a fresh taste of paradise.
The airline commented market research and input from local community leaders indicate the Columbia community will welcome the new nonstop flights and low-fares to South Florida as an alternative to connecting flights and long drives to other airports. Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route.
The Allegiant Vacations division of the company offers low-cost packages with 19 of South Florida’s most exciting hotel properties, including: Amerisuites Miami Kendall, Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach, Hyatt Key West Resort, Sheraton Suites Plantation and Westin Fort Lauderdale. Air and hotel packages to South Florida are available for as low as low as $144*. (Price is per person, based on a two night hotel stay at the Sheraton Suites Plantation Fort Lauderdale, double occupancy and reflects a Wednesday arrival and Friday departure.) The company also provides a low-cost car rental service through its partnership with Alamo Rent a Car .
Allegiant’s $29* one-way introductory fare is limited, must be purchased by April 22, 2009 and is valid for travel through Sept. 30, 2009 . Introductory fares are not available on all flights. After the introductory fare period, regular one-way fares on the route start as low as $49 one-way. Reservations can be made on the airline’s website at www. allegiantair .com , through the airline’s Reservations and Information Center at 702-505-8888 or through professional travel agents.
About the $29* one-way fare:
Seats are limited. Fares are one-way and not available on all flights. Must be purchased by April 22, 2009 for travel completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Offer not available July 2-6, 2009. Prices do not include PFC, segment tax or Sept. 11 security fee of up to $10.60 per segment. A segment is one take-off and one landing. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger will apply when booked on allegiantair.com. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger, plus $10 per segment, will apply when purchased through Allegiant Air call center. Purchases made at any Allegiant Air Airport Ticket Office will not incur a convenience or call-center fee. When purchased at time of booking, a fee of $15 for first checked bag and $25 for second checked bag will apply per person, per segment. If purchased at flight check-in, a fee of $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag per person, per segment will apply. In all cases additional higher fees will apply for three or more checked bags. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply.
About the Company
Las Vegas based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla. Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., Phoenix-Mesa, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the Company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel related services.
