Allegiant expands Appleton airport schedule with flights to Pacific Northwest
GREENVILLE - Allegiant Air will begin non-stop flights between Appleton International Airport and Portland International Airport in Oregon this summer.
Allegiant announced Monday it'll offer two flights each week between Appleton and Portland from June 15 to Aug. 13. The Appleton-Portland service was one of eight new routes the ultra-low-cost airline announced Monday. Others include service between Denver and Allentown, Pa.; Austin and Omaha, Neb.; and Chicago and Provo, Utah.
Portland will be the 11th destination and Oregon the seventh state Allegiant flies to out of Appleton. The airline already offers seasonal service from Appleton to Denver, Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, Sarasota/Bradenton, Savannah/Hilton Head and Tampa/St. Petersburg area airports.
“Our partnership with Allegiant Airlines is one more example of how the Appleton International Airport is one of the economic engines of the Fox Valley and northeast Wisconsin,” Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson said. “We’re proud of the growth of this service for both vacation and business travelers.”
Las Vegas-based Allegiant has steadily increased activity at Appleton International Airport in the decade since it first began non-stop service between Appleton and Las Vegas in 2013. In addition to adding flights to more destinations, Allegiant one year ago invested $50 million to establish an aircraft and crew base at the Appleton airport. The airline in October expanded its Appleton-based operations from two jets to three, said Abe Weber, Appleton International Airport director.
"Allegiant is recognizing northeast Wisconsin as a great opportunity" for investment, Weber said.
When will flights take off between Appleton and Portland?
Allegiant plans to fly between Appleton and Portland on Thursdays and Sundays. Weber said the times and days of departure were set up to enable travelers to spend a long weekend in Portland. The flights will both use Airbus A320 jets that feature 186 seats.
"It's great timing on the flights," Weber said. "You can get a full day in when you travel out there."
Flights on both days are scheduled to depart Appleton at 6:30 a.m. Central and arrive in Portland at 8:50 a.m. Pacific.
The return flight from Portland departs at 9:40 a.m. Pacific and lands in Appleton at 3:20 p.m. Central.
What will flights from Appleton to Portland cost?
Allegiant announced introductory, one-way fares of $69 for select seats and flight dates. The introductory fare sale seats must be purchased by Tuesday, Feb. 21, and travel must be completed by Aug. 13.
A search of Allegiant's website Monday shows one-way tickets will range from $124 to $165.
Allegiant is an ultra-low-cost airline that offers no-frills, low ticket prices and then offers a la carte services like checking a bag or picking your seat for a fee.
Allegiant will test demand this summer, could tweak schedule
Weber said the two-month window for flights allows Allegiant to try out the route, gauge demand and determine whether to expand the service in future years. Expansion could include additional flights each week. It could also mean extending the schedule.
Weber said it's now up to the airport to market the flights in the community to help increase seat sales on the route.
"They've seen (this service) be successful in other Midwest markets, and if it's successful here, you'll maybe see it start earlier in the summer and end later in the fall," Weber said. "It's our job to get the awareness about the route out there."
A change of pace for leisure travelers
Leisure travel airlines like Allegiant have fueled a boom in air travel out of Appleton and nearby Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. Most of those flights have focused on Florida, Arizona and similar warm-weather destinations that offer an escape from winter.
Weber said non-stop flights to Portland opens up a new region of the country to northeast Wisconsin travelers. Portland offers access to wine country, golf courses and a variety of national parks and outdoor recreation.
"It's kind of a change of pace," Weber said. "We're excited about that."
Appleton airport expansion plans arrive right on time
Allegiant's expanded service improves the airport's chances to top the 846,000 passenger arrivals and departures in 2022, the airport's busiest year. January passenger activity increased to 38,271, a 31% increase over January 2022.
Outagamie County, which owns and operates the airport, plans to invest more than $100 million in upgrades, improvements and expansions starting this year. Federal and state grants will provide the majority of funding to:
Design and construct an airport terminal expansion
Design a new air traffic control tower
Design an additional ramp in the Northeast Business Park
Design a microgrid
The terminal project will redesign the public areas, renovate ticketing areas, increase baggage claim space and expand the concourse. Weber said the air traffic control tower project would relocate the structure away from the terminal building in future years to free up room to accommodate more, larger jets.
"This sets ourselves up for future development and growth down the road," Weber said.
Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Allegiant to begin non-stop flights from Appleton to Pacific Northwest
