Allegiant Airlines has announced that it is launching six new nonstop routes, including the airline’s debut at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport.

The new routes are to warmer destinations to encourage summer and fall vacations. Newly-announced flights serve the west of the U.S. and Florida to reach more customers longing for a summer break.

Allegiant is starting its first of the new services on July 2. The first flight will be from St. Petersburg-Clearwater to Bentonville’s Northwest Arkansas National Airport. Allegiant will also be launching services to Provo, Utah from St. Petersburg on October 7.

On Florida’s east coast, customers will be able to fly between Fort Lauderdale and Bentonville. Services between these two cities launch on October 8.

On August 19, Allegiant will also begin flights from Pittsburgh to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Among the newly-announced services are two flights to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport. The new services will form the airline’s first time to the airport in its history. From October 8, customers can reach Provo from Sky Harbor. One week later, on October 15, services will start from Sky Harbor to Stockton in California.

All of the new routes will operate twice per week. Special introductory one-way fares were launched on the new flights starting at $38.

Drew Wells, Allegiant’s Senior Vice President of Revenue and Planning, said in an airline press release, “We’re hearing nothing but excitement from travelers looking forward to taking some long-overdue vacations.”

“We are excited to offer travelers even more convenient, nonstop routes to make those dreams of sunny places come true. Whether you’re looking to explore the desert southwest or take in the beaches of Florida, we’ve got your ride – free from the hassle of stops and layovers – at a price you can afford,” continued Wells.

At the moment, Allegiant serves both Provo and Stockton from the Phoenix-Mesa airport. However, the airline’s bookings portal suggests that the service from Phoenix-Mesa to Stockton will terminate just before the Sky Harbor flights begin.

None of the new services have direct competition. However, customers can fly between Pittsburgh and Phoenix’s Sky Harbor year-round with both American and Southwest Airlines.

Leisure Expansion

Allegiant has been expanding its network greatly in 2021. In April, the airline announced a new base in Austin with three Airbus A320s and two new routes.

In February, Allegiant added 43 new routes across the U.S. to a number of leisure spots. Similarly, less than a month earlier, the airline announced 21 new flights, including launching services to Portland, Oregon; Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Key West, Florida.

It’s not only Allegiant spearheading the expansion of leisure travel, though. In March, United expanded its leisure network with 26 new routes. United continues to target vaccinated travelers too, beginning new services and re-launching flights to countries offering quarantine-free vacations to those immunized.

This trend is not just in the U.S., either. Earlier this month, British Airways added 90,000 seats to leisure destinations as the U.K. relaxed border rules. There is also an uptick in leisure services heading to London’s Heathrow Airport despite leisure carriers usually serving smaller airports such as Gatwick.

After over a year of lockdowns and travel restrictions, it comes as no surprise that people want to travel for leisure. A recent Virgin Atlantic survey showed most respondents wanted to visit leisure destinations including Barbados, New York and Florida.

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Connor Sadler

Connor has been in love with flying since the first time he boarded a plane when he was 5 years old. He loves all things aviation, and he hopes to make that his full time career in the future.

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