Allegiant Adds 30 New Routes And 4 New Cities
Key points
- Allegiant will launch 30 new nonstop routes across 35 U.S. cities in the first half of 2026
- The airline is entering La Crosse, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Columbia as new markets
- New routes link the four cities to Mesa, Orlando Sanford, Fort Lauderdale, St. Pete Clearwater, Destin, Des Moines, Knoxville, and Grand Rapids
- Introductory one way fares start at $39 on select routes for tickets booked by November 19, 2025, for travel through August 18, 2026
- Most flights follow Allegiant's point to point leisure model, operating only a few days per week on each new route
Impact
- Booking Deadline
- Buy promotional fares by November 19, 2025, for trips through August 18, 2026, if you want the lowest advertised prices on these routes
- New Markets
- Travelers in La Crosse, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Columbia gain nonstop links to Florida, Arizona, the Midwest, and Tennessee that did not exist on Allegiant before
- Schedule Planning
- Expect limited weekly frequencies on many routes and build in flexibility, because most city pairs operate only on select days rather than daily
- Airport Strategy
- Compare Allegiant's new flights from secondary airports with fares and fees from larger nearby hubs before committing to a 2026 vacation plan
- Fare Rules
- Factor in Allegiant's add ons for bags, seats, and priority services so the total trip cost remains in budget even when the base fare looks very low
Budget travelers will have more choices for 2026 vacations after Allegiant Travel Company announced a 30 route expansion that will connect 35 cities across the United States and add four new markets to the airline's network. The leisure focused carrier will begin flying from La Crosse, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Trenton, New Jersey, and Columbia, Missouri in the first half of 2026, with introductory one way fares on select routes advertised from $39 for tickets bought by November 19, 2025, for travel through August 18, 2026.
The expansion sits squarely in Allegiant's long running strategy of linking smaller cities and secondary airports directly to vacation destinations instead of building a traditional hub and spoke system. For travelers, that means more nonstop options to Florida, Arizona, and key Midwestern cities, but also a need to pay close attention to schedule patterns, fare rules, and extra fees before locking in 2026 plans.
Allegiant's New Markets
Allegiant will begin serving Wisconsin through La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE), giving local travelers nonstop access to both Arizona and Florida. New flights to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) are scheduled to begin on February 6, 2026, followed by seasonal service to Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) from May 21, 2026. Promotional one way fares on these La Crosse routes start at $69, reflecting the longer stage length and peak season demand profile.
In Pennsylvania, Allegiant is entering Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) for the first time, carving out a niche in a market dominated by full service competitors. From Philadelphia, the airline will add nonstops to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) and McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville beginning May 21, 2026, and to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids starting May 22, 2026, with introductory fares from $49 one way on each route.
Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) in New Jersey will see three new Allegiant routes, all aimed squarely at Florida demand. Service to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is set to start on February 19, 2026, followed by flights to Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), both beginning February 20, 2026, with promotional one way fares starting at $49.
Columbia Regional Airport (COU) in Missouri rounds out the list of new cities in Allegiant's 2026 plan. Travelers there will gain nonstop service to Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) beginning June 3, 2026, and to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) from June 5, 2026, with both routes launching at advertised one way fares from $59.
Across these four new markets, Allegiant is positioning itself as the airline that takes travelers straight from smaller hometown airports to sun and leisure destinations without a change of planes. That tradeoff, fewer flight choices but shorter overall trip time, is central to how the company competes with larger carriers.
Latest Developments
Beyond the four new markets, Allegiant is also adding 20 more routes that link cities already in its system, further thickening its web of point to point leisure flying. New flights will connect Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC), and Albany International Airport (ALB), giving travelers in those secondary cities nonstop access to South Florida beaches.
Along the Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF) will gain new Allegiant service to Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Omaha, Huntsville International Airport (HSV), Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), and Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), with fares starting as low as $39 on the Huntsville route and $49 to several others.
On the West Coast, Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) will see new nonstops to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) and Indianapolis International Airport (IND), while John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana will add routes to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco, Appleton International Airport (ATW), Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), and Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) will add links to Elmira Corning Regional Airport (ELM) and Dayton International Airport (DAY).
Rounding out the list, Allegiant is also introducing new service between Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI) and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), between Key West International Airport (EYW) and Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) in Columbus, and between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS), all with introductory one way fares in the $59 to $69 range.
These additions reinforce Allegiant's stated mission of connecting travelers to what it calls world class destinations at affordable prices, a point the airline highlighted when announcing the expansion.
Analysis
For travelers based in the four new markets, the practical upside is simple, nonstop flights to popular leisure destinations that previously required a connection or a longer drive to a major hub. A family in La Crosse can fly straight to the Phoenix area or central Florida, while residents of Columbia gain single plane options to Orlando area theme parks and the Florida Panhandle beaches around Destin.
The tradeoffs are characteristic of Allegiant's broader business model. Most routes operate only a few days per week instead of daily, which can limit flexibility for weekend getaways or business trips that do not align with the schedule. Allegiant also keeps base fares low by charging extra for many add ons, including carry on and checked bags, advanced seat assignments, and priority boarding, so the total price after fees can rise quickly if travelers are not careful.
Background, Allegiant specializes in a regional, point to point leisure network rather than running a hub based system with frequent flights and seamless connections. The airline typically flies narrow body Airbus aircraft a few times per week on each route, focusing on periods when demand is highest and parking planes when it is not. That allows Allegiant to advertise headline grabbing fares from $39 one way on select flights, but it also means that if a flight sells out or is disrupted, the next available option might be days away instead of hours.
The promotional fares themselves come with additional fine print. Seats and dates are limited, fares are not available on every flight or every day, and tickets must be purchased by November 19, 2025, for travel through August 18, 2026, to qualify for the lowest advertised prices. Standard caveats also apply, including the possibility of schedule changes and the need to pay extra for optional services and baggage.
From a planning standpoint, travelers looking at 2026 vacations should start by mapping Allegiant's new routes against their home airport and realistic alternate airports within driving distance. A traveler in Philadelphia, for example, might compare an Allegiant nonstop from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines with a connecting itinerary on a legacy carrier from the same airport or a competing nonstop from a nearby hub, weighing total travel time, baggage fees, and refund or credit policies.
Final Thoughts
Allegiant's 30 route expansion and entry into La Crosse, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Columbia underscores how aggressively the airline is leaning into its niche of connecting smaller markets directly to leisure destinations. For budget conscious travelers who can plan around limited flight days, pack light, and commit early enough to capture promotional fares, the new service can unlock more convenient vacations in 2026. For others, especially those who need schedule flexibility or prefer more generous change and refund policies, the headline fares will still need to be balanced against the full cost and constraints of Allegiant's model.
As always, the safest approach is to read the fare rules, compare total trip costs across airlines, and build in extra margin on peak travel days so that a thin schedule does not turn a bargain fare into an avoidable headache.