“This is an important day for Allegiant,” Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant Travel Co. president, said in a statement.
“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.
“Our operations team worked long and hard to ensure the completion of this certification and we thank them for their dedication in achieving this important goal,” Levy added.
The company announced earlier this year its entrance into Hawaii. ETOPS certification and Flag Carrier status are both necessary for flying to Hawaii.
Allegiant will offer nonstop air service to Honolulu, Hawaii, from Stockton beginning Nov. 18. Flights from Las Vegas and Fresno have already begun. Flights from Bellingham, Wash., begin Nov. 15; from Monterey begin Nov. 16, and Eugene, Ore. and Santa Maria begin Nov. 17. Allegiant will also offer nonstop air service to Maui, Hawaii, Bellingham, Wash., beginning Nov. 14.
“The new Hawaii service has proven very popular, and we are pleased with initial bookings,” Levy said. “We look forward to serving the Hawaiian market with the same business model that has made Allegiant so successful on the mainland – linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations and offering great deals on vacation packages, including air, hotel and car rental.”
The route from Fresno to Hawaii has been so popular already that the company in May announced it planned to double its service to Honolulu International Airport.
Allegiant will utilize 757-200 aircraft on the Hawaiian routes. The company operates four 757-200 aircraft and owns two additional aircraft, which are on lease to a European carrier. These aircraft are expected to be introduced into Allegiant’s fleet during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.
