Flint Township View

Allegiant aircraft and crew base in Flint bringing jobs, growth


FLINT TWP. — Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) recently announced plans to establish a base of operations at Flint Bishop International Airport (FNT). The Las Vegas-based company will invest $75 million to establish the new aircraft and crew base in Flint, creating at least 89 high-wage jobs and housing three Airbus A320 aircraft.

The company, which focuses on linking travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class leisure destinations, plans to begin its base operations in Flint on Feb. 16.

The leisure-focused airline also announced new nonstop service from FNT to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) beginning Nov. 18 with special one-way introductory fares as low as $59.

“Flint has been a great location for Allegiant, where our presence and success have grown each year,” said Keith Hansen,

Allegiant’s vice president of government affairs. “It makes perfect sense to establish an aircraft and crew base in Flint, further embedding Allegiant in the community as a hometown airline.

Having locally-based operations will mean opportunities for expanded hours, as well as more – and more frequent – flight offerings for local residents. We are grateful to our outstanding partners at Flint Bishop International Airport for working to make this exciting step in Allegiant’s growth a reality.”

Located in Mid-Michigan along the Flint River, the City of Flint is home to diverse growth industries in healthcare, education, manufacturing and the arts, as well as sectors tied to its historic automotive industry roots. Flint and Genesee County include Michigan’s largest county park system, comprised of more than 11,000 acres of woods, water and trails.

The city’s vibrant downtown area is home to renowned galleries and museums, the Flint Farmer’s Market, the Capitol Theatre and hosts dozens of recreational activities, cultural and music festivals annually.

Allegiant’s planned base, which has a pending application for state support as part of the project, is part of the company’s plan to grow its operations in Flint and continue to serve new customers there.

“This announcement is the culmination of a great relationship with Allegiant, our community and the region as a whole,” said Nino Sapone, chief executive officer, Flint Bishop International Airport. “Our passengers have proven time and again how much they value the unique brand of travel that Allegiant offers. Allegiant has grown from less than 7 percent of our traffic in 2016, to over 54 percent today. It’s an amazing story of growth, commitment and partnership. Opening this base will add a variety of high paying jobs to the region, give our passengers greater access to more nonstop destinations, and the airline a home in Mid-Michigan. We’re looking forward to taking this partnership to the next level.”

Allegiant began operating at FNT in 2016 and currently offers eight nonstop routes – to Orlando-Sanford, Fort Lauderdale, Punta Gorda, St. Pete-Clearwater and Sarasota, Florida.; Nashville, Tennessee; Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona (new service starting Nov. 18). In 2019, Allegiant carried nearly 197,000 passengers through Flint.

For reservations and flight information from Flint, visit bishopairport.org. — G.G.