SPRINGFIELD, Illinois NOVEMBER 18, 2021 -- Allegiant is set to launch its nonstop service between Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA). Flights begin today, November 18th, and will be offered year-round between the two cities. The first arriving flight will be welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute and the first departure will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting at the departure gate by the first passenger to board the aircraft. “We have been eagerly awaiting this day to arrive as we are extremely excited to offer this new service to the Springfield community in partnership with our friends at Allegiant,” stated Frank J. Vala, Chair of the Springfield Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. “We continue to be grateful for Allegiant’s continued commitment to Springfield. We are confident this new western destination to Arizona will complement the existing service to Florida.” Vala concluded, “We thank Allegiant for providing our community with these convenient and affordable opportunities to travel and we look forward to great success as we launch this new route.” The route between Phoenix-Mesa (AZA) and Springfield (SPI) will generally operate twice weekly, year-round, on Airbus aircraft seating up to 186 passengers. Phoenix, also known as the “Valley of the Sun”, is home to world class golf courses, vacation resorts and countless family-oriented outdoor recreational opportunities in the beautiful desert and mountainous landscape. The area is also home to Major League Baseball’s Spring Training Cactus League and is a short journey to the Grand Canyon. “A hallmark of Allegiant’s service is to connect travelers to warmer destinations where they can enjoy a variety of outdoor leisure activities,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s senior vice president of revenue and network planning. “And we’ve continued that tradition with this expansion by giving customers more affordable, nonstop options to visit during the fall and winter seasons.” “More than ever, travelers appreciate the convenience Allegiant provides by offering nonstop flights that get them from point-to-point, without the hassle of layovers or connections,” Wells said. They also like the convenient access through the smaller airports Allegiant serves in communities that have traditionally lacked commercial air service. Allegiant currently offers twice weekly service to Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda, Florida (PGD) from Springfield (SPI). This new route complements the leisure-oriented demand perfectly and allows travelers to continue to enjoy the Allegiant experience to a new destination from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found at Allegiant.com. ABOUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL AIRPORT® Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport was named the 2010 and 2020 Primary Airport of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation. In 2012 IDOT released an Economic Impact study indicating Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport generates $563.6 million in total economic output annually for the local economy impacting 4,797 jobs. The airport has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the past 18 consecutive years. The airport is home to many major tenants, which include the Illinois Air National Guard’s 183rd Wing, IDOT’s Division of Aeronautics, Lincoln Land Community College’s LRS Aviation Maintenance Training Center, StandardAero and Stellar Aviation. The airport’s main passenger terminal is also home to numerous car rental companies, Subway™ Sandwich Shop, the Passenger Service Center and Sky Club, a membership-based club offering additional amenities to frequent travelers. Commercial passenger air service offerings feature daily service to Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX on American Airlines, to Chicago, IL on United Airlines and to Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda, FL and Phoenix-Mesa, AZ on Allegiant.
More information, including a complete listing of arrivals and departures, can be found online at www.FlySPI.com or by calling the Passenger Service Center at 217-788-9200. For more information, please contact: Mark E. Hanna, A.A.E., Executive Director Springfield Airport Authority/Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport PH: 217-788-1060 ##