Allegiant Air will invest $75 million to open a crew base in Austin, Texas as it explores ways to benefit from the rebound in leisure travel following the year-long coronavirus crisis.
The Las Vegas-headquartered ultra-low-cost carrier says on 6 April that 89 “high-wage” jobs will be created at the Austin-Bergstrom International airport, which it has served since 2013. Three of its Airbus A320s will be based there.
The base will be operational from 18 November.
“Having locally-based operations will mean opportunities for expanded hours, as well as more – and more frequent – flight offerings for visitors and locals alike,” says Drew Wells, Allegiant’s senior vice-president of revenue.
Allegiant flies between Austin and its home airport Las Vegas, and to 14 other destinations, including to Orlando, Cincinnati, Memphis, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
“The base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will bring additional flexibility for flight times and future route opportunities, as locally-based crew members return home nightly to Austin,” Allegiant says.
In February, the carrier said it will launch 34 nonstop routes to domestic leisure destinations as it plans for customers to return in larger numbers during the summer travel season following a year of pandemic-driven travel restrictions. The point-to-point routes will serve secondary cities, a strategy that has brought the ultra-low-cost airline success. Allegiant will begin flying those routes in May, June and July.
