Allegiant Air launches Hawaii operations
Allegiant’s new 757 was given a wet welcome to Fresno Yosemite International Airport as the low-cost airline launched its much-anticipated Hawaii operations. In the terminal, passengers were treated to tropical coconut and banana chip cupcakes, Kona coffee and were serenaded by Hawaiian ukulele players.
- Allegiant Air expanded its Florida network last week when the ultra low-cost airline also finally commenced Hawaii operations with its new fleet of 217-seat 757s. Each of the Florida routes is operated twice-weekly, while Allegiant serves Las Vegas, NV (LAS) thrice-weekly and Fresno, CA (FAT) once a week from Honolulu, HI (HNL).
| Date | Origin | Destination | WF* | A/c | Competition (WF*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29-Jun-12 | Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | Honolulu, HI (HNL) | 3 | B757 | Hawaiian Airlines (17) |
| 30-Jun-12 | Honolulu, HI (HNL) | Fresno, CA (FAT) | 1 | B757 | |
| 27-Jun-12 | Punta Gorda, FL (PGD) | South Bend, IN (SBN) | 2 | MD80 | |
| 28-Jun-12 | Punta Gorda, FL (PGD) | Fort Wayne, IN (FWA) | 2 | MD80 | |
| 28-Jun-12 | Punta Gorda, FL (PGD) | Peoria, IL (PIA) | 2 | MD80 | |
| 29-Jun-12 | Punta Gorda, FL (PGD) | Niagara Falls, NY (IAG) | 2 | MD80 | |
| 01-Jul-12 | Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) | Niagara Falls, NY (IAG) | 2 | MD80 | Spirit Airlines (2) |
| *WF: Weekly Frequency
Source: Innovata data for w/c 2 July 2012 |
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FAT? They know what they’re doing certainly as Allegiant has eked out profits during high fuel cost run- ups that forced other carriers to downsize, but I don’t get it. Fresno is in the center of California’s housing price free fall and city bankrucy crisis. It’s isolated and couldn’t possibly serve as an alternative to a large airport such as SFO, LAX, or SMF. LAS has seen numbers of airlines attempting Hawaiian service lose their shorts, and discontinue operations. Even when LAS served as the late night hub for the entire America West operations they still were unable to feed daily service to HNL. OAK, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway would seem more sensible along with OAK for a launch of Hawaii flights. That’s the freakish nature of Allegiant nothing they do makes any sence, from operating high fuel cost, but cheap to acquire
MD-80’s to tiny cities paired with larger cities that seem to have no possible relation to each other, such as Minot with Phoenix-Mesa
“FAT? I don’t get it. Fresno is in the center of California’s housing price free fall and city bankrucy crisis. It’s isolated and couldn’t possibly serve as an alternative to a large airport.”
It announced in May that it was doubling frequency to 2x weekly: http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/transportation/1855-allegiant-air-to-double-fresno-to-hawaii-flights
“MD-80′s to tiny cities paired with larger cities that seem to have no possible relation to each other, such as Minot with Phoenix-Mesa”
But they do. The Phoenix area is renowned as a place for ‘snow birds’ from up north during the cold wintertime. So Allegiant simply identified viable opportunities. Per 4Q 2011, around 84 people flew Minot-Phoenix area-Minot. Given Allegiant carried the vast majority of these, its low frequency approach – ordinarily 2x weekly but sometimes increasing to 4x weekly depending upon the week and month – seems good.
I should clarify that I meant each day and not within the 4Q (!) when I put “Per 4Q 2011, around 84 people flew Minot-Phoenix area-Minot.” 😉