KarlB737 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 2943 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1564 times:
Allegiant Press Release
July 31, 2007
PLAY A "ROUND" IN PALM SPRINGS! ALLEGIANT AIR ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF NONSTOP FLIGHTS TO PALM SPRINGS FOR JUST $59* EACH-WAY
(Bellingham, Wash.)--- Bellingham get ready to play a "round" in Palm Springs, Calif. Low-cost airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, today announces the return of seasonal nonstop jet service to Palm Springs from Bellingham, Wash. Beginning Nov. 15, the low-fare carrier will celebrate the convenient new service to Palm Springs International Airport with sunny introductory fares as low as $59* each way.
Palm Springs is a relaxing and recreational oasis in the premiere desert region of Southern California's Coachella Valley, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, manicured golf courses and warm, beautiful blue skies. Year-round sunshine and world-class hotel and resort amenities entertain more than three million visitors each year. The destination is a Mecca for golf, tennis and sunbathing, with more than 110 golf courses, 600 tennis courts and 30,000 swimming pools. This scenic destination is comprised of eight distinctively charming desert resort cities, which include Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage.
"We are pleased to bring back the convenient nonstop service to Palm Springs," Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Allegiant Air president and CEO, said. "We know the entire region will enjoy the low-cost, nonstop jet service to Palm Springs, as they already do to Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe."
The self-proclaimed "Official Airline for Sunshine" will launch the new seasonal scheduled service from Bellingham International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport with two flights weekly. With service Thursday and
Sunday, flights will depart Bellingham at 8:10 a.m. arriving in Palm Springs at 11 a.m. Flights leaving Palm Springs will depart at 11:40 a.m. arriving in Bellingham at 2:30 p.m. (all flight times are local.) Allegiant Air offers flights to two other nonstop destinations from Bellingham, Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe.
"Palm Springs is a great vacation destination," said Art Choat, the Port of Bellingham's Aviation Director. "We know the community is very excited that Allegiant is connecting Bellingham to Palm Springs with this popular seasonal service." The airline commented that market research and input from local community leaders indicate the entire Whatcom County and Vancouver communities will welcome the return of nonstop flights and low fares to Palm Springs as an alternative to connecting flights and long drives to other airports. Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route.
Spinkid From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1002 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1528 times:
If they start service to Phoenix, BLI will have 4 non stops on Allegiant, with Reno and Las Vegas as well.
San747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4936 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1503 times:
Good news for PSP, but I do wish they'd bring back PSP-LAS, they were a good-priced alternative to UAX.
AAflyguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 350 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 1432 times:
It's pretty obvious G4 doesn't want to test their product in a smaller destination market such as PSP. BLI is a no brainer, basically, as it serves the YVR market. LAS is a tough sell, because both UA* and US* already serve the route daily, and G4 was a whopping 2x weekly. Hard to compete, even when the price is right, when you're only flying twice a week. There is so much happening in PSP right now, including resorts undergoing a complete renovation, expanding guest rooms and/or services, or totally brand-new properties. It is more compact and attractive than the urban sprawling Phoenix metro area, complete with traffic and smog. In the PS area, there will be a new and improved and greatly expanded Ritz-Carlton (same location as before in Rancho Mirage). There's to be a Hard Rock Resort & a Mondrian Hotel both flanking the Palm Springs Convention Center and open by 2010. The Agua Caliente Casino just topped off their 16-story hotel to open early next year, and the same tribe is planning to replace the existing Spa Resort. The same tribe is planning to replace their existing Spa Resort in Downtown PS with an incredible new hotel & spa along with a large expansion of the casino located across the street. Again, this is to happen by 2010. There is much talk about a St. Regis coming to Palm Springs also, which may or may not occur.
The thing is, NO AIRLINE has truly tapped that market's potential, and G4 is another that is not willing to. I don't totally blame them, though, because it's less risky to go into larger more established markets for new focus cities, as they can handle more capacity due to higher demand. Also, the CVB's and other tourism related agencies in those markets have deeper pockets and avenues to support increased accessibility that will boost the economy and tourism industry. Oh well, one day PSP will be discovered. In the meantime, passenger traffic will continue to grow by 5-6% annually as it has so far this decade. This year total traffic will surpass 1,625,000, surpassing the current record (set in 2006) by about 100K. That type of consistent growth will catch the eye of some airline(s) eventually.
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