Allegiant Airlines Coming To St. Cloud Airport
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (WCCO) -- Allegiant Airlines will start service this winter in St. Cloud, offering non-stop flights to Phoenix.
And more than $18 million in revenue is expected to be generated by this new service.
Local leaders believe the low-cost airline will make St. Cloud, and the region, much more attractive for new businesses.
"This is, indeed, a very happy occasion for everybody concerned," said Al Kremers of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp.
Allegiant will fly direct to Phoenix once a day, twice a week. Fares will start at less than $100 each way.
"We know there's a lot of potential travelers who are looking for a great vacation spot," said Eric Fletcher of Allegiant Airlines. "We know there are second homeowners. We know there are all kinds of reasons this is a great place to start the air service out of the St. Cloud Airport."
Allegiant now fills the void Delta left behind. It pulled out of St. Cloud almost three years ago.
Allegiant will be the only airline servicing St. Cloud starting mid-December.
That means business-owner Brad Goskowicz of Microbiologics won't have to travel to another distant airport to catch a flight. He believes the region will benefit from Allegiant's arrival.
"I think it's important we can attract more people into St. Cloud -- business and professional," he said.
City leaders hope a second airline will follow. On top of adding Chicago next year, New York and Washington DC could be in the works.
