Allegiant Air announced on Tuesday, June 12, it has obtained Extended-range Operations Certification and Flag Carrier Status from the Federal Aviation Administration, which clears the way for the company’s service to Hawaii and other overseas destinations.
The move is the final piece of a plan that began two years ago when the air carrier purchased six Boeing 757s with the intention of offering flights to the islands from West Coast airports.
Allegiant announced in April it would begin flying to Hawaii from both Fresno, CA and Las Vegas, NV beginning in June.
The company announced in June it was expanding its Hawaiian service to Santa Maria, Stockton, CA, Eugene, Ore., and Bellingham, Wash. Monterey, CA has also been recently added to the service.
Flights originating from Santa Maria, Las Vegas, Fresno, Monterey, Stockton and Eugene will access Honolulu, HI. Flights from Bellingham will service Honolulu and Maui.
Single weekly flights from those cities will begin in November.
“This is an important day for Allegiant,” Allegiant Travel Co. President Andrew Levy said in a press release. “Obtaining ETOPS and Flag Carrier status not only clears the path for our new service to Hawaii, but also opens up potential international opportunities and will play an important role in our company’s future growth.”
Bookings for the Hawaiian service have gone so well in Fresno that the company is adding a second weekly flight from that airport.
June 13, 2012