Allegiant plans to close its crew base in Bellingham, Washington, airport officials announced Wednesday.
The Port of Bellingham, which operates Bellingham International Airport, said it was informed by Allegiant that the crew base will shut down in November. The move will change Allegiant’s crew scheduling, the port said, but the carrier has confirmed “it will continue operating all existing routes and maintaining its current flight schedule at BLI.”
Allegiant confirmed the closure in a statement to AirlineGeeks.
“After careful evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to close our base in Bellingham, effective Nov. 2,” the carrier said. “However, we will continue to operate the station past this date. This decision reflects changes in cross-border demand patterns and operating conditions. Please know this decision was not made lightly but is unavoidable at this time. Bellingham has long been an important part of our network, and we will continue to monitor the demand environment and adjust as market conditions evolve.”
The Port of Bellingham said Allegiant will transition to a “turn-based” model, where its crews and aircraft operate routes from other bases without overnight stays in Bellingham.
The agency acknowledged it is “disappointed” by the planned closure but emphasized that the broader community will see little or no direct impact.
“This decision is related to how Allegiant organizes its internal operations, not its commitment to the traveling public of Whatcom County,” Matt Rodriguez, director of aviation at Bellingham airport, said in a news release. “Allegiant will continue to serve BLI, and passengers will see no change to routes or service.”
The Port of Bellingham said Allegiant’s decision was influenced by fluctuating fuel costs, regional cost pressures, and changes in cross-border travel demand, particularly among Canadian travelers.
Allegiant connects Bellingham to Oakland, Burbank, San Diego, and Palm Springs in California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix-Mesa.
