Allegiant is the main passenger carrier out of Lehigh Valley International Airport.
April 28, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
A trade group that represents discount carriers including Allegiant is seeking $2.5 billion from the federal government to cover the higher costs of fuel, the New York Times reported Monday.
The Times said fuel prices surged since the start of the war with Iran, and the association wants money to offset the higher prices.
The Association of Value Airlines’ members include Allegiant, Avelo, Spirit, Frontier and Sun Country, which Allegiant is acquiring. The group is also seeking a temporary waiver of a fee and a tax assessed by the federal government, the Times said, citing an association statement.
Spirit Airlines has declared bankruptcy twice but the other discount carriers don’t appear to be in “the same severe financial distress,” the Times story said.
Allegiant (NASDAQ:ALGT) is based in Las Vegas. It carries Lehigh Valley travelers to Sun Belt locations in South Carolina and Florida, and to Nashville and Denver. Allegiant serves more passengers from the Lehigh Valley International Airport than American, Delta and United.
Those three larger airlines use contract carriers to fly out of LVIA. The airport also handles cargo flights, which have increased with the development of warehouses and industry in the region.
The closing price Tuesday of Allegiant shares was $77.81. In the past 52 weeks, the shares have traded as high as $118.00 and as low as $42.56.
Allegiant said in a statement last week that the acquisition of Sun Country will result in no immediate changes. Completion of the $1.5 billion deal is expected in May.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 