Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air has cleared the final hurdle to beginning service to Hawaii later this month.
The low-cost airline, which primarily connects secondary markets to leisure destinations, has obtained certification for extended-range operations, or ETOPS, as well as Flag Carrier status from the Federal Aviation Administration, the airline said Tuesday.
The ETOPS certification validates that Allegiant’s Boeing 757-200 aircraft and maintenance program are reliable enough to operate for extended periods away from suitable airports, which in this case involves extended duration over water. The Flag Carrier status means that Allegiant is approved for operations outside the continental U.S.
Both the ETOPs certification and Flag Carrier status were necessary for flying to Hawaii.
Allegiant is inaugurating nonstop service this year from Las Vegas and six West Coast cities to Honolulu, as well as from one of those cities to Maui. The carrier’s first flights will be from Las Vegas to Honolulu three days a week beginning June 29 and from Fresno, Calif., to Honolulu once a week starting June 30. The Fresno-Honolulu service will expand to twice a week in November.
"This is an important day for Allegiant," said Andrew Levy, president of corporate parent Allegiant Travel Co. "Obtaining ETOPS and Flag Carrier status not only clears the path for our new service to Hawaii, but also opens up potential international opportunities, and will play an important role in our company’s future growth. Our operations team worked long and hard to ensure the completion of this certification."
Besides Las Vegas and Fresno, Allegiant is starting service to Honolulu from Bellingham, Wash., twice a week beginning Nov. 15, as well as weekly service from Monterey, Calif. (Nov. 16); Eugene, Ore. (Nov. 17); Santa Maria, Calif. (Nov. 17); and Stockton, Calif. (Nov. 18).
Allegiant will also begin twice-a-week service to Maui from Bellingham on Nov. 14.
"The new Hawaii service has proven very popular, and we are pleased with initial bookings," Levy said.
Allegiant Travel Co. generates revenue by selling hotel rooms, car rentals and attractions, as well as airline tickets, to its passengers.
Allegiant operates four 223-seat 757s and owns two others that are currently leased to a European carrier. Those leased aircraft are expected to join Allegiant’s fleet during the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2013.
The company, which is publicly traded on the Nasdaq, was founded in 1997 and has posted 37 consecutive profitable quarters. It has a market capitalization of $1.3 billion.
Allegiant’s stock closed down 70 cents, or 1.1 percent, at $65.74 on Tuesday.
