CONTACTS:
Dan Mann, Airport Director, 362-3131 or
Pam Hinman, Director of Marketing & Communications, 286-5719
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept.9, 2008
GET
AWAY TO TAMPA BAY!
ALLEGIANT AIR ANNOUNCES NONSTOP FLIGHTS FROM CEDAR RAPIDS TO TAMPA BAY FOR $89* ONE-WAY
(CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa)--- Cedar Rapids, Iowa residents get ready for more sunshine! The low-cost airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, today announces new, nonstop jet service to Florida’s Tampa Bay area from Cedar Rapids beginning Nov. 21, 2008. The low-fare carrier will celebrate the convenient new service to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport with sunny introductory fares as low as $89* each way.
With an average 361 days of sunshine each year, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is considered the most popular vacation destination on Florida’s West Coast. The area was named among the top beaches in the United States and is one of a few destinations to have received the “Blue Wave Award” from the Clean Beaches Council. In addition to pristine beaches, visitors are within minutes of shopping, amazing golf courses and award-winning resort and dining experiences.
“We are extremely pleased to again expand the Allegiant brand of low-fare, nonstop jet service within the Eastern Iowa community,” Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., president, CEO and Chairman for Allegiant said. “This is an exciting new addition for our airline and our customers as we launch yet another way to get to the fun and sun of Florida and the only scheduled service between Cedar Rapids and the Tampa Bay area.”
The self-proclaimed “Official Airline for Sunshine” will launch the new scheduled service from The Eastern Iowa Airport to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport with two flights weekly. With service Monday and Friday, flights will depart Cedar Rapids at 11:00 a.m. arriving in Tampa Bay at 2:40 p.m. Flights leaving Tampa Bay will depart at 8:30 a.m. arriving in Cedar Rapids at 10:20 a.m. (all flight times are local.) Allegiant Air began nonstop, low-cost service to Las Vegas June 24, 2004, flights to Orlando, Fla. Dec. 7, 2005 and service to Phoenix-Mesa Oct. 25, 2007.
"More than 20,000 people a year fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport to the Tampa/St. Pete area," Dan Mann, Airport Director for The Eastern Iowa Airport, said. "And now with low-cost, nonstop service on Allegiant, it becomes even more convenient and affordable."
The airline commented market research and input from local community leaders indicate the Eastern Iowa community will welcome the new nonstop flights and low fares to the Tampa Bay area as an alternative to connecting flights and long drives to other airports. Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route.
The Allegiant Vacations division of the company will allow customers to double their sunshine fun with complete vacation packages at some of the area’s premier resorts, including Alden Beach Resort, Belleview Biltmore, Don CeSar, Hilton Clearwater Beach, Innisbrook Beach Resort, Marriott Suites on Sand Key and Sheraton Sand Key. Complete vacation packages including roundtrip air and three-night hotel stay for as low as $352*. (Price is per person, based on double occupancy, three-night hotel stay at the Hyatt Place Tampa Airport West Shore and a Friday arrival/ Monday Departure.) Low-cost packages are available to include not only air and hotel, but car rentals for additional savings.
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. Allegiant’s $89* one-way introductory fare is limited, not available on all flights and must be purchased by Oct. 1, 2008 for travel between Nov. 21, 2008 and Feb. 5, 2009. After the introductory fare period, regular one-way fares on the route start as low as $109 one-way.
About the offer:
All fares are limited, one-way and are non-refundable. Prices do not include PFC, segment tax or Sept. 11 security fee of up to $10.50 per segment. A convenience fee of $11.50 per traveling customer will be applied when booked at www.allegiantair.com or through an Allegiant Air call center. Travel purchased through an Allegiant Air call center will cost an additional $10 per segment. A checked baggage fee of $15 per bag, per person, per segment will apply for the first two bags, when purchased at the time of booking. If purchased at flight check-in, a checked baggage fee of $25 per bag, per segment, per person will apply to the first two checked bags. Additional higher fees will apply for three or more checked bags. A segment is defined as one take-off and one landing. Fares are non-refundable. Seats are limited and subject to availability. Restrictions apply. Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets. This offer is not available Nov. 26 - Dec. 1, 2008; Dec. 20 – 31, 2008 and Jan. 1-5, 2009.
About the Company
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, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Orlando, Fla. and Tampa/St.
Petersburg, 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.
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Press inquiries:
Tyri Squyres
Allegiant Air
Phone: 702-851-7370
Email: tyri.squyres@allegiantair.com