Published Aug 15, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. United States ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air is set to expand its network with seven new routes, all of which will connect cities on the US East Coast. All of these flights are to destinations in Florida, as suggested by insider Ishrion Aviation on X. Allegiant is headquartered in Las Vegas and primarily focuses on serving leisure traffic from smaller and medium-sized cities. Its low base fares mirror carriers like Frontier, Ryanair, and easyJet. The airline company acquired Sun Country Airlines in May this year, in a deal that cost more than $1.5 billion. It will see the airline maintain the Sun Country base at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) but eventually fold all Sun Country plans under the Allegiant Air brand. Seven New Routes To Florida Credit: Shutterstock While the starting dates for these new routes remain unclear, Ishrion Aviation has outlined the airline's seven new services, which connect to Florida-based airports including Orlando, Punta Gorda, Sanford, St. Petersburg, and Fort Lauderdale. A full breakdown is captured in the map and table below. Credit: GCMap Allegiant has a growing presence in Florida due to the state being the nation's most popular leisure and vacation hotspot. This sees the airline aiming to fly small to medium underserved cities, including flying tourists to secondary or lower-cost Florida airports, which fills market gaps and allows the airline to quickly expand and pick up capacity where other airlines may have withdrawn or stimulate demand on its own. Origin Destination Distance (miles) Distance (kilometers) Cincinnati (CVG) Orlando (MCO) 756 miles 1,218 kilometers Boston (BOS) Punta Gorda (PGD) 1,232 miles 1,983 kilometers Boston (BOS) Sanford (SFB) 1,097 miles 1,766 kilometers Boston (BOS) St. Petersburg (PIE) 1,193 miles 1,920 kilometers Providence (PVD) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 1,188 miles 1,913 kilometers Portsmouth (PSM) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 1,285 miles 2,068 kilometers Providence (PVD) Sanford (SFB) 1,049 miles 1,689 kilometers Allegiant Air's Seven New Routes To Florida Credit: Shutterstock All but two of these new routes Allegiant will hold the monopoly on, with no other carriers offering nonstop flights on the same airport pair. Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the route with by far the most competition, with Allegiant expected to operate head-to-head with Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Origin Destination Direct Competition Cincinnati (CVG) Orlando (MCO) Delta, Frontier, Southwest Boston (BOS) Punta Gorda (PGD) None Boston (BOS) Sanford (SFB) None Boston (BOS) St. Petersburg (PIE) None Providence (PVD) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) JetBlue, Southwest Portsmouth (PSM) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) None Providence (PVD) Sanford (SFB) None Flights to and from Providence (PVD) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) will see direct competition from JetBlue (year-round) and Southwest (seasonal). It will be interesting to see how the carriers respond to the new incumbent budget carrier, potentially bringing even cheaper airfares for those in the regions served. Allegiant is primarily a no-frills, budget carrier, and specializes in point-to-point travel, bypassing transits through busy airport hubs. Most add-ons come at a cost, such as checked baggage, carry-on baggage, and seat selection. In a surprising move, the airline added complimentary beverages starting in August this year. First Class Coming Soon Credit: Shutterstock In another exciting move, Allegiant plans to add first class on select aircraft and routes, being the biggest change in customer experience since the airline's launch back in 1997. Allegiant First will be available from next spring, with eight dedicated premium seats to be installed at the front of the cabin. This will not replace the Allegiant Extra offering, but instead add another higher-tier option with additional inclusions. Allegiant also added complimentary nonalcoholic beverages for all passengers at the beginning of August, a change from when the airline has historically relied on buy-on-board sales. This comes at a time when passenger expectations continue to evolve, and many travelers are now looking to prioritize affordable fares but also be willing to pay for extra comfort and convenience. Purchasing alcoholic beverages, these will incur an extra fee, as do snacks and other meal options in the economy cabin. This latest announcement by Allegiant to launch seven new routes to Florida will undoubtedly be welcome news for those travelers looking for new, low-cost options to the Sunshine State. Florida remains the number one destination choice for Americans when traveling domestically, primarily due to the range of attractions and year-round warm temperatures.
Allegiant Air's Massive Expansion: 7 New Routes Announced [Map]
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