Allegiant service will start in November

Discount air carrier Allegiant will begin offering nonstop flights twice a week between the Orlando, Fla., area and Asheville Regional Airport on Nov. 18, company and airport officials announced Tuesday.Fares on the Allegiant website were initially as low as $49.98 plus taxes and fees one way. They are likely to range from $50-$150 once an introductory sale is over, said Kristine Shattuck-Cooper, Allegiant’s public relations manager.The service will partially fill a hole created by plans by AirTran Airways to end its three-times-a-week service to Orlando International Airport in January.

The Allegiant flights, on 150-seat MD-80 jets, will fly into Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Fla.Orlando Sanford is the Orlando area’s secondary airport and is located to the northeast of the city, on the opposite side of town from Orlando’s biggest tourist destinations.Flights will leave Asheville at 8:20 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and arrive at Orlando Sanford at 9:50 p.m. Return flights will depart at 6:10 p.m. and arrive in Asheville at 7:40 p.m. on the same days.Orlando is Asheville Regional’s most popular destination, airport Director Lew Bleiweis said.In addition to travelers from Western North Carolina visiting tourist attractions in Florida, the inexpensive AirTran flights have been popular with people who have homes in both Florida and WNC and with businessmen, he said.It’s a large population base that (flies) back and forth to Orlando,Bleiweis said.

Shattuck-Cooper said the departure of AirTran, also a discount carrier, created an opportunity for Allegiant.Allegiant specializes in flights between smaller cities and vacation destinations like Orlando, Las Vegas and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.Allegiant serves more than 70 U.S. airports. including those in Greenville-Spartanburg, Knoxville, Tenn., and Tri-Cities, Tenn. A good portion of its business comes from selling air and hotel packages.AirTran is ceasing all operations at Asheville Regional as a result of its acquisition by Southwest Airlines.AirTran also has offered seasonal service between Asheville and Tampa, but those flights stop in early November.Shattuck-Cooper said it is possible that Allegiant might one day offer Asheville-Tampa service or increase the frequency of Asheville-Orlando service if passenger loads justify it.Airport officials are keeping their fingers crossed.We hope this turns into something bigger and better,Bleiweis said.