— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Allegiant is adding 44 routes but none at Lehigh Valley International Airport.
The Las Vegas-based airline is adding three airports to its network — Gulf Shores (Alabama) International, Colorado Springs and Columbia (South Carolina) Metropolitan.
Today’s announcement is tied for the biggest expansion in the airline’s history, according to a company statement.
Allegiant carries Lehigh Valley residents to several Sunbelt locations. It carries about 60% of local travelers. LVIA is also served by United, Delta and American, through contracted services with smaller airlines.
Pittsburgh gains a flight to Phoenix in this expansion, a route that might have drawn interest in this region. Allegiant’s strategy is to fly routes it can complete round-trip in a day, limiting its range.
Shares in Allegiant (NASDAQ:ALGT) finished Monday at $74.20. The airline’s pilots have voted to authorize a strike, but service continues as management and labor talk.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 