Allegiant launches new flights from Melbourne to Allentown, Pa., resumes Nashville flights
With a water cannon salute, Melbourne Orlando International Airport officials will welcome Allegiant Air's debut flight from Allentown, Pennsylvania, during a Friday afternoon ceremony.
Melbourne's inaugural twice-weekly nonstop Allegiant flight from Lehigh Valley International Airport — Pennsylvania's fourth-largest — is scheduled to arrive on the Space Coast at 4:40 p.m., said Keely Leggett, airport spokesperson.
Allentown is located roughly 65 miles from downtown Philadelphia and 90 miles from downtown New York City.
"We are thrilled to welcome the inaugural flight from Allentown to MLB. We are excited to expand our air service with Allegiant and look forward to connecting friends and family in the northeast with the Space Coast," Keely said in a statement.
In addition to Allentown service, Allegiant has resumed its seasonal nonstop flights between Melbourne and Nashville, Tennessee. Flights restarted on Thursday.
Melbourne's expanded Allegiant offerings come on the heels of the announcement two weeks ago that American Airlines will offer seasonal flights to Washington, D.C., from Feb. 17 through May 4. Those flights will occur on Saturdays and Sundays.
Allegiant debuted at the Melbourne airport two years ago, in November 2021. In addition to Nashville and Allentown, the low-cost carrier offers flights to and from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
More: NYC-Philly access: Allegiant to add nonstop flights from MLB to Allentown, Pennsylvania
We're celebrating non-stop @Allegiant Allentown flights with a water cannon salute, delicious treats, and much more! If you're flying on November 17th through MLB, you might see some celebrations.
Need to book your next Allentown flight from MLB? Visit https://t.co/M7XFf75D4j... pic.twitter.com/DPoktKjXpp— Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) (@FlyMLB) November 10, 2023
Greg Donovan, executive director of the Melbourne airport, was unavailable for comment Thursday. Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, touted the Allentown route's potential in a July press release.
“We’re excited that Florida’s Space Coast joins our list of destinations — due to Melbourne’s proximity to the Kennedy Space Center,” Stoudt said.
More: American Airlines to launch nonstop flights between Washington, D.C., and Melbourne, Florida
“With a world-renowned arts district, family-friendly entertainment venues like the Brevard Zoo, and access to fantastic beaches, Melbourne can become another place for rest and relaxation for Lehigh Valley residents,” he said.
Last month, Donovan told the Melbourne Airport Authority that demand at MLB remains on track to break the airport's all-time record of 765,723 total passengers, which was set in 1990.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Allegiant launches flights from MLB to Allentown; Nashville nonstops resume
