Grand Forks International Airport will temporarily suspend Allegiant Air flights to Las Vegas starting in May 2024. The decision is part of a systemwide adjustment and is not directly related to the recent merger between Allegiant and Sun Country Airlines, according to the airport’s executive director, Ryan Riesinger.
Riesinger stated that the airport learned of the flight suspension last week and remains optimistic about reinstating the service by fall. He emphasized that this decision reflects a broader trend affecting Allegiant’s operations, citing a 20% decline in passenger numbers from Grand Forks to Las Vegas. “They have been experiencing fewer visitors to Las Vegas and their overall system has made some cuts,” Riesinger explained.
Future of Allegiant Service
The airport typically resumes its fall schedule in October. While Riesinger is hopeful that the Las Vegas flights will return, he noted that it is uncertain whether they will be offered as continuous service or just seasonal flights. “Allegiant schedules out in four-month sections, based on what they are projecting,” he added.
The merger between Allegiant and Sun Country, finalized on January 11, 2023, is expected to create a combined service that will cater to approximately 22 million customers across 175 cities, according to reports from the Las Vegas Sun. Currently, Allegiant operates seasonal flights from Grand Forks to Orlando/Sanford and continuous flights to Mesa in addition to Las Vegas.
Impact of Declining Las Vegas Tourism
Recent reports indicate a downturn in Las Vegas tourism, which has affected flight demand. Travelpulse.com shared that the city experienced nearly 9% fewer visitors in September 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year, with June numbers reflecting a decline of more than 11%.
Local leaders, including Mayor Brandon Bochenski, are actively engaging with Allegiant to explore additional flight options. A meeting is set for February to discuss the potential for a new Allegiant route from Grand Forks to Minneapolis-St. Paul. “If that’s a possibility, that would be really great,” Bochenski remarked.
In response to the need for increased air travel options, Bochenski established an Air Service Task Force in October 2023. The task force aims to prioritize additional flights in and out of the airport. In a promising development, Delta Airlines announced plans to add one daily flight to and from Minneapolis starting in April 2025. Additionally, there is hope that regular United Airlines flights to Denver will be announced soon.
Riesinger confirmed that discussions regarding these potential changes are ongoing, highlighting the airport’s commitment to enhancing air service for the Grand Forks community.