Allegiant Air Adds Nonstop Service

(ALLENTOWN, Pa.)---Lehigh Valley scores a hole-in-one with Allegiant Air as the low-cost airline announces new, nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C. from Allentown, Pa. beginning May 3. The low-fare carrier will celebrate the convenient new service to the premier golf and beach destination with introductory fares as low as $49* each way.

“We are extremely pleased to again expand the Allegiant brand of low-fare, nonstop jet service to the Lehigh Valley,” Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., president, CEO and chairman for Allegiant Air, said. “Based on our experience and success within the market, Allentown was chosen as one of only two airports to receive the new service. This is an exciting new addition for our airline and our customers as we launch Allegiant’s unique brand of service between Allentown and Myrtle Beach.”

The self-proclaimed “Official Airline for Sunshine” will launch the new scheduled service from Lehigh Valley International Airport to Myrtle Beach International Airport with two flights weekly. With service Thursday and Sunday, flights will depart Lehigh Valley at 10:55 a.m. arriving in Myrtle Beach at 12:30 p.m. Flights leaving Myrtle Beach will depart at 11:30 a.m. arriving in Lehigh Valley at 1:05 p.m. (all flight times are local.) Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route. Allegiant Air also offers low-cost, nonstop service to two other destinations from the Lehigh Valley with nonstop service Orlando, Fla. and the Tampa Bay area.

“The addition of nonstop service to Myrtle Beach from Allegiant Air is another sign of their commitment to the Lehigh Valley region,” Glenn R. Walbert, chairman of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, said. “This announcement comes at a time when most carriers are cutting back on capacity. We hope that golfers and families will take advantage of this new service to a great destination.”

"We look forward to working with Allegiant Air to provide affordable air service from Allentown, Pa. to Myrtle Beach," said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "This is a great opportunity for Myrtle Beach, as a destination, as we will start with summer service to and from Allentown and grow from there. We are excited to provide a quicker travel method for golfers from Pennsylvania to get to Myrtle Beach and get out on the golf courses."

“We’re excited to see Allegiant add air service to Myrtle Beach,” said Brad Dean, president and CEO, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “Allegiant specializes in package offers, which is a good fit for our destination. Travel packages are a powerful incentive with Myrtle Beach visitors.”

On Tuesday, Allegiant Air announced that it will begin low-fare, nonstop jet service to Myrtle Beach International Airport from Huntington, West Virginia, beginning April 30. The new flights between Myrtle Beach and Huntington will operate twice weekly, with service Thursday and Sunday. Flights leaving Huntington will depart at 9:30 a.m., arriving in Myrtle Beach at 10:50 a.m. Flights will depart Myrtle Beach International Airport at 1:10 p.m., arriving in Tri-State Airport at 2:30 p.m. (all flight times are local.) Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route.

Known as the “Golf Capital of the World,” Myrtle Beach offers endless world-class golf and 60 miles of soft, sandy beaches. Recognized as the “World’s Best Beach” and one of the “Top 10 places for Families to Visit in the U.S.” by Yahoo! Travel, the Grand Strand has something for everyone. With more than 100 golf courses to choose from, Myrtle Beach boasts many of the world’s most challenging courses, personally designed by golf greats like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Family fun begins at the beach, inviting visitors to make a splash at any of the many water parks or embark on numerous aquatic adventures like deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, boat rides and jet skiing. The city’s shopping is an adventure all its own featuring fashion, from couture boutiques to flea market districts. Visitors can indulge in the city’s culture by watching award-winning, live entertainment or sampling an assortment of delicious, world cuisine--all while enjoying the ocean view.

The Allegiant Vacations division of the company will offer low-cost packages with many of Myrtle Beach's most exciting hotel properties, including: Bay View Resort, Breaker Resort, Caribbean Resort & Villas, Compass Cove Resort, Dunes Village Resort, Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort, Long Bay Resort and Ocean Reef Resort. The company will provide low-cost car rental service through its partnership with Alamo Rent a Car.

Allegiant’s $49* one-way fares are limited, not available on all flights and must be purchased by March 28, 2009 for complete travel by Sept. 30, 2009. After the introductory fare period, regular one-way fares start as low as $69 one-way. Reservations may be made through the company’s website at www.allegiantair.com, the airline’s Reservations Center at 702-505-8888 or professional travel agents.

About the $49* offer: *Seats are limited and fares are not available on all flights. All fares are one-way. Must be purchased by March 28, 2009 for travel to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Offer not available: May 22-25, 2009 and July 2-6, 2009. Prices do not include PFC, segment tax or Sept. 11 security fee of up to $10.60 per segment. A segment is one take-off and one landing. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger will apply when booked on allegiantair.com. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger, plus $10 per segment, will apply when purchased through Allegiant Air call center. Purchases made at any Allegiant Air Airport Ticket Office will not incur a convenience or call-center fee. When purchased at time of booking, a fee of $15 for first checked bag and $25 for second checked bag will apply per person, per segment. If purchased at flight check-in, a fee of $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag per person, per segment will apply. In all cases additional higher fees will apply for three or more checked bags. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply.

About Allegiant Air Las Vegas based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., Los Angeles, Calif. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the Company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel related services