Allegiant Air drops Lincoln for new GI route

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:31 pm

this could go in any of three forum sections...

http://www.theindependent.com/news/x223 ... s-to-Vegas

Allegiant, which focuses on routes to popular travel destinations from small markets, is adding service to Grand Island as it drops service in Lincoln.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:32 am

Noticed that the newspaper story had an error in the frequency of flights. According to Allegiants website, flights will be inbound AND outbound on both Thursdays and Sundays, same as Lincolns current schedule.

Ben, right now, if somebody from, oh, say, York, wanted a flight to Vegas, I suspect the bulk of Yorkites would travel to Omaha for the better fare as opposed to Lincoln. Lincoln's flights were probably predominantly Lincolnites. Out in GI, I suspect the York traveler would choose GI. So would the traveler from Kearney, Hastings, Columbus, Broken bow, North Platte, Lexington, McCook and probably north central Kansas as well. Currently, GI fills larger planes on a once monthly charter flight that costs considerably more than $79 each way.

Throw in a few business travelers going to conventions in Vegas.

I would imagine Allegiant did some homework... They're big boys.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:36 am

If they can't make a practical route like GI-Denver work, which would be supported by business travelers (on a 40-76 person plane)

Well, if we had an opportunity to have such a connection, I'd bet you a box of Eileens Colossal Cookies (made fresh daily in the Tri Cities!) that it'd work. I seem to remember in the 80's, before deregulation, that GI hosted Frontier flights to both Omaha and Denver on 737's that put plenty of butts in seats, combined with Air Wisconsin full sized jet flights to Chicago.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:11 am

The speculation I hear on this is that they want to get away from the Omaha airport and Southwest, as in less competition.

I've flown on Allegiant a couple times now. It gets you there but the schedules stink and everything is extra. Allegiant has been charging for the first checked bag since I can remember.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:32 am

The speculation I hear on this is that they want to get away from the Omaha airport and Southwest, as in less competition.

It's not even speculation. Allegiants Director of Sales said it directly to the TV cameras at their GI press conference yesterday. Part of the problem was that Southwest prevents Allegiant from raising their fares to cover the rising cost of fuel. It should be noted that as of yesterday, the cost of Jet A fuel at GI's airport was $5.76 a gallon and in Lincoln it was $6.60

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:48 am

It's about 20miles further to drive to Eppley from downtown Lincoln than it is from Olathe/south KC to Kansas City International. Â Not an earth shattering difference...

Post by **Coyote** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:21 am

Lincoln loses one of its three air carriers

TOM SHAW WORLD-HERALD BUREAU wrote:After years of declines in passenger travel, the Lincoln Airport had one bright spot left this summer: an upswing in the number of people taking nonstop flights on Allegiant Air between Lincoln and Las Vegas. But the lights went out on that bright spot this week when the airline ended the service. If the downward trend continues, Bowen said, Lincoln could become like Sioux City, Iowa, whose airport offers only a handful of daily flights.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:36 am

So I guess we'll probably see a little bump at Eppley then... I assume we're still on track to top the 4.5 million mark.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:07 am

I wonder how viable Lincoln's airport will be with Omaha next door.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:13 pm

I don't know Sundays numbers, but Thursdays flight from GI had three empty seats and 147 seats with butts in them.

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:01 am

http://www.theindependent.com/business_ ... s-to-Vegas

GRAND ISLAND —

"Our surveys show most people are coming from Douglas (County), then Lancaster, then Hall for the Vegas flights," said Mike Olson, executive director of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport. The information is derived from regular parking lot surveys, using license plates, taken by airport staff.

"People in Omaha are buying tickets to use Grand Island," he said. "With gas prices going down, people are not as hesitant to travel (to Grand Island)."

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:41 pm

Let me get this straight... people from Omaha are driving to Grand Island... to fly to Vegas??

Now I know how those Des Moines people feel.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:59 pm

Just for giggles, I checked prices on allegiantair.com.

Leaving for vegas on Sun, Dec 14th and returning on Thursday, Dec 18th for two people.

$30 each way plus $30 in fees total: $180 round trip for two.

Lowest price on Southwest from OMA during comparable dates is $450 round trip for two.

It would cost me $155 in gas if I were to drive to Vegas in my 30mpg Saturn avg $1.80/gal gas.

as an aside, round trip for two on southwest to the mile high city is $250. Â united is going for $235.

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:41 pm

I've been able to speak to a number of people now who have taken advantage of the GI to LV trip. All of them have said, the flights are full and they are good! That's great news! The news today is that daily flights will be resuming as of Feb. 1st. They have had success bringing in the leisure passengers, now they are aiming for the business passengers with flights to Kansas City.

With Wednesday’s announcement by Great Lakes Aviation and the continued operation of Allegiant Air, Olson said, he anticipates the airport will have 10,000 boardings by August.

Olson said he even hopes that the airport might achieve 15,000 boardings by the end of the year.

With the number of passengers they are expecting great things may be on the horizon for the Grand Island airport!

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:37 am

Two weeks ago the GI airport is in negotiations with Allegient Air about providing flights to the Phoenix area and possibly to Florida. According to their last board meeting, Allegient is averaging 88% full flights and are ready to expand. Overall passenger numbers are up over 150% for the year. This is good news!

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:06 pm

Two weeks ago the GI airport is in negotiations with Allegient Air about providing flights to the Phoenix area and possibly to Florida. According to their last board meeting, Allegient is averaging 88% full flights and are ready to expand. Overall passenger numbers are up over 150% for the year. This is good news!

It's a done deal! A two year agreement for twice weekly service, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, begins in mid October using 150 seat MD-80 jets..

http://www.theindependent.com/articles/ ... 312898.txt

Olson said Allegiant Air has helped the airport determine its market for Allegiant flights out of Grand Island. Twenty percent of business is coming from Douglas and Lancaster counties. People are driving to Grand Island from as far east as Omaha, as far west as Ogallala, as far south as 50 miles into Kansas and as far north as almost the South Dakota border.

Now that Allegiant has Las Vegas and Phoenix-Mesa contracts, Fenyes said, it can look at additional destination flights from Grand Island.

NovakOmaha · Post by **NovakOmaha** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:03 pm

Candleshoe wrote:
Two weeks ago the GI airport is in negotiations with Allegient Air about providing flights to the Phoenix area and possibly to Florida. According to their last board meeting, Allegient is averaging 88% full flights and are ready to expand. Overall passenger numbers are up over 150% for the year. This is good news!
It's a done deal! A two year agreement for twice weekly service, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, begins in mid October using 150 seat MD-80 jets..

http://www.theindependent.com/articles/ ... 312898.txt

Olson said Allegiant Air has helped the airport determine its market for Allegiant flights out of Grand Island. Twenty percent of business is coming from Douglas and Lancaster counties. People are driving to Grand Island from as far east as Omaha, as far west as Ogallala, as far south as 50 miles into Kansas and as far north as almost the South Dakota border.

Now that Allegiant has Las Vegas and Phoenix-Mesa contracts, Fenyes said, it can look at additional destination flights from Grand Island.

I've got to believe that Orlando is a definite possibility.

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:14 am

How about Hawaii??

Today, Allegiant CEO Maurice Gallagher confirmed Â those intentions. Â The carrier has acquired the six Boeing 757’s of which we spoke, and plans to begin Hawaii service later this year. Â Delivery of the first two planes will occur within 60 days, with those remaining scheduled from November 2010 to December 2011.

http://beatofhawaii.com/hawaii-welcomes-allegiant-air/