Have you heard the news? Allegiant Air will begin offering non-stop flights to three Florida destinations this Spring from RDU.

As our ninth commercial air carrier, Allegiant is a great new addition to the family of air carriers operating at our airport.  

Beginning in May, you can fly nonstop to Orlando-Sanford International Airport, Punta Gorda and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport in Florida. Read more on the details of this service.

We’re excited that Allegiant is arriving at RDU. It’s an airline that is sure to make its mark on the Research Triangle Region. Here are a few things you may not know about Allegiant.

The airline began in 1997 with flights in California and Nevada. Over time the airline has grown to serve destinations throughout the U.S. They fly larger, single aisle aircraft such as Airbus 319/320, Boeing 757 and McDonnell Douglas MD-83/88. Typically, they only offer service on peak travel days from the destinations they serve.

Alternate Airports

With a few exceptions, Allegiant tends to avoid flying to large airports in favor of alternate airports that are on the outskirts of major metropolitan areas.

For instance, flights from RDU will be to Orlando-Sanford International Airport, the city’s smaller airport, instead of Orlando International, where other flights to RDU currently operate. Punta Gorda is a small airport outside Ft. Myers, Florida and St. Pete/Clearwater is the smaller airport in the Tampa Bay region.

Vacation Focus

Allegiant describes itself as a travel company because its schedules and destinations are geared toward leisure travelers. A major part of Allegiant is vacation bookings. The airline makes it very easy to book hotels and car rentals during the ticket booking process.

With this in mind, routes from RDU will provide great departure and return options for long weekends and week-long stays at the three nonstop Florida destinations the airline will serve.

Promotions and Deals

If you’re a fan of saving money, it’s worth keeping an eye on Allegiant Air’s social media channels. Via their Facebook and Twitter pages, the carrier offers a ton of last minute sales and promotions. In fact, Allegiant’s ticket prices tend to become cheaper closer to the travel date versus far in advance as is the method of some airlines.