Allegiant Air will expand its service in Santa Maria by providing nonstop flights to and from Phoenix later this year, according to an announcement Thursday.
The airline announced that the new service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway International Airport would begin Nov. 19.
The Phoenix-Santa Maria flights generally will occur on Thursdays and Sundays, according to Chris Hastert, general manager for the Santa Maria Public Airport.
“We were really happy with the announcement,” Hastert said. “We were caught a little off guard because, to be honest, we didn’t even think about expanding air service with what’s going on right now.”
While airline travel has experienced a huge decline because of the COVID-19 global pandemic and a steep reduction of business travelers, Hastert said Allegiant’s focus on the leisure travel industry could benefit the new route.
“We think it’s actually very good timing. With the service starting up Nov. 19, that’s just before the holidays and they can book the tickets now so they can place in advance,” Hastert said.
Fares for the fledgling flight will run as low as $29 each way, but Allegiant advised that the introductory rate involves limited seats and dates with fares not available on all flights. Additionally, tickets must be purchased by Saturday for travel by Feb. 8, the company said.
The announcement of the new Santa Maria-Phoenix flights Thursday occurred as Allegiant touted seven new nonstop routes, many of them listed as seasonal offerings.
However, the new Santa Maria flights are expected to continue throughout the year, Hastert said.
The airline already flies three round-trip flights each week — Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays — between Santa Maria and Las Vegas.
It appears the new route will use an Airbus aircraft designed to carry 186 passengers, Hastert said.
Santa Maria’s airport officials have offered standard incentive packages to Allegiant, including waiving fees to support the expansion, but negotiations remain ongoing, Hastert said.
The airline’s decision to expand its offerings in Santa Maria culminates years of courting Allegiant to include other routes.
“We were actually on the short list for Mesa service last year,” Hastert said. “Unfortunately, they added six airports, and we were No. 7.”
Thursday’s announcement is the latest in the ongoing effort to expand air service at the Santa Maria airport, currently served only by Allegiant.
Earlier this year, airport, city and business leaders gathered to herald United Airlines’ plans to launch new daily round-trip flights between Santa Maria and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.
However, the global pandemic grounded the June arrival for the service, with a revised target to begin in October. The new service now is set for March, Hastert said.
When it does begin, United will fly to San Francisco and Denver only since the airline has since dropped plans to provide flights between Santa Maria and Los Angeles, Hastert said.
Despite still offering free parking, Santa Maria has struggled to expand air service compared to counterparts in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, both of which are county seats and home to universities.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.