I thought Allegiant had gone all Airbus from PIE but I noticed today an MD80 taking off today and in checking their schedule I noticed at least one other flight from PIE today on Allegiant that was an MD80.

The MD's don't leave until the end of November, so its very likely bigger stations like PIE are going to see them occasionally, even if the schedule is all/mostly airbus at the particular airport.

There are no longer any MD-80 based at PIE, but they may still be subbed in or used as rescue flights if needed.

What else could G4 have planned for expansion at PIE? SHV seems to be a hole in the map. Maybe SJU? Also, how are PIE-Mesa flights doing?

Hoping for SFB-AZA.

The MD80s are all based in Sanford now but can always fill in for other bases for various needs (mechanical, crew, etc).

We're down 2 A320s due to 1 going in for a C-Check and 1 going to LAS. N420NV ferried over 3 days ago.

The AZA flight did well enough that once it starts back up in fall it will be year round.

Thanks for the info. Seems like PIE-AZA would be a good opportunity to test a few connections.

Gee...wish I had known this a few months ago

Flightaware says there are currently 2 MD-80s headed to PIE

AAY825 from DSM
AAY829 from GSP


Accurate...or mistakes?

There is a new inspection that is yielding extended down time for A320 series aircraft in heavy checks due to structural repairs required. This is probably causing an issue for G4 (and multiple other A320 series operators) during peak season. I've seen it, and it's extensive....but I cannot say more than that.

B6JFKH81 wrote:

There is a new inspection that is yielding extended down time for A320 series aircraft in heavy checks due to structural repairs required. This is probably causing an issue for G4 (and multiple other A320 series operators) during peak season. I've seen it, and it's extensive....but I cannot say more than that.

Published in the Federal Register related to extensive wing box inspections and repairs.

727LOVER wrote:

Gee...wish I had known this a few months ago

Flightaware says there are currently 2 MD-80s headed to PIE

AAY825 from DSM
AAY829 from GSP


Accurate...or mistakes?

Accurate
825 operated with tail 878GA
829 operated with tail 410NV

Both were scheduled as A320 and downgauged.

Although PIE has always been a good station for G4, I think Allegiant now really sees the value of the airport and the market (Tampa Bay). G4 is the 4th largest airline in the Tampa Bay area (TPA/PIE) ahead of United by over 180,000 pax YTD 2018. Although I know Allegiant has invested in infrastructure projects in Orlando/Sanford and Port Charlotte, this may be the first time I've heard of them investing their own capital into an airport's infrastructure.

"In addition, the airline’s parent company Allegiant Travel Company, (NASDAQ: ALGT) has plans to expand at PIE by consolidating several different facilities it currently use at the airport into one space. Allegiant’s operational consolidation at PIE is slated for the building vacated last October by United Parcel Service, which switched its operations over to Tampa International Airport. The UPS building at PIE will be torn down and Allegiant will build a new facility."

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/ne ... water.html

As for potential growth, there aren't many existing G4 cities in the east or mid west that PIE doesn't fly to. They will either have to start looking out west for some untapped demand or try to work with the few existing points to develop a market for tourism to St. Petersburg (The same way they will for Port Charlotte at the resort they're building).

If LIT-SFB is doing well, LIT could probably work to PIE at 2x weekly.
A more ambitious route would be BLI to PIE. Currently, Vancouver only maintains 1 destination in Florida, and that is a season route on Westjet to Orlando. If they were to start BLI-PIE, they would face no competition at TPA, and almost no competition in marketing a non-stop route from Bellingham/Vancouver to a destination in Florida!...this is a long shot, though.

Flyingstump wrote:

Although PIE has always been a good station for G4, I think Allegiant now really sees the value of the airport and the market (Tampa Bay). G4 is the 4th largest airline in the Tampa Bay area (TPA/PIE) ahead of United by over 180,000 pax YTD 2018. Although I know Allegiant has invested in infrastructure projects in Orlando/Sanford and Port Charlotte, this may be the first time I've heard of them investing their own capital into an airport's infrastructure.

"In addition, the airline’s parent company Allegiant Travel Company, (NASDAQ: ALGT) has plans to expand at PIE by consolidating several different facilities it currently use at the airport into one space. Allegiant’s operational consolidation at PIE is slated for the building vacated last October by United Parcel Service, which switched its operations over to Tampa International Airport. The UPS building at PIE will be torn down and Allegiant will build a new facility."

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/ne ... water.html

As for potential growth, there aren't many existing G4 cities in the east or mid west that PIE doesn't fly to. They will either have to start looking out west for some untapped demand or try to work with the few existing points to develop a market for tourism to St. Petersburg (The same way they will for Port Charlotte at the resort they're building).

If LIT-SFB is doing well, LIT could probably work to PIE at 2x weekly.
A more ambitious route would be BLI to PIE. Currently, Vancouver only maintains 1 destination in Florida, and that is a season route on Westjet to Orlando. If they were to start BLI-PIE, they would face no competition at TPA, and almost no competition in marketing a non-stop route from Bellingham/Vancouver to a destination in Florida!...this is a long shot, though.

What's going in place of the UPS used to be?

MD83 being used on the PIE-SYR flight today

Just flew there last week CID-PIE and return. Love flying in there so much quicker and easier than TPA. The gate area for gates 7-8 was a little cramped due to construction but once done will be nice. My only wish was that the secure area was all connected instead of just two separate areas and that there would be more jet bridges (they only have 2).

Take this with a grain of salt, but I heard PIE-MDW or GYY is being looked at.

Although PGD has gone all A320, it was a pleasure to see a MD80 on the ramp there not too long ago.

And not to nick-pick, but the resort Allegiant is building is in Charlotte Harbor, not Port Charlotte.

PennPal wrote:

Although PGD has gone all A320, it was a pleasure to see a MD80 on the ramp there not too long ago.

And not to nick-pick, but the resort Allegiant is building is in Charlotte Harbor, not Port Charlotte.

Not to nit-pick, but if it was built IN the harbor, it would be underwater

They should move over to TPA

Allegiant is going to be constructing a building where the vacant UPS building sits, it has been in the works for a few months now. As for Allegiant's growth at PIE, the rumors and speculations are that G4 will connect a few more cities but will add more frequencies on key routes. They have already started it on some routes like CVG and PIT. The overall goal though is to offer connections and go international out of PIE.

And as a side note we have 3 total MD80s operating out of here. 410, 420, 878 were here this morning. Was told they would be here until the end of the month.

william wrote:

Flyingstump wrote:

Although PIE has always been a good station for G4, I think Allegiant now really sees the value of the airport and the market (Tampa Bay). G4 is the 4th largest airline in the Tampa Bay area (TPA/PIE) ahead of United by over 180,000 pax YTD 2018. Although I know Allegiant has invested in infrastructure projects in Orlando/Sanford and Port Charlotte, this may be the first time I've heard of them investing their own capital into an airport's infrastructure.

"In addition, the airline’s parent company Allegiant Travel Company, (NASDAQ: ALGT) has plans to expand at PIE by consolidating several different facilities it currently use at the airport into one space. Allegiant’s operational consolidation at PIE is slated for the building vacated last October by United Parcel Service, which switched its operations over to Tampa International Airport. The UPS building at PIE will be torn down and Allegiant will build a new facility."

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/ne ... water.html

As for potential growth, there aren't many existing G4 cities in the east or mid west that PIE doesn't fly to. They will either have to start looking out west for some untapped demand or try to work with the few existing points to develop a market for tourism to St. Petersburg (The same way they will for Port Charlotte at the resort they're building).

If LIT-SFB is doing well, LIT could probably work to PIE at 2x weekly.
A more ambitious route would be BLI to PIE. Currently, Vancouver only maintains 1 destination in Florida, and that is a season route on Westjet to Orlando. If they were to start BLI-PIE, they would face no competition at TPA, and almost no competition in marketing a non-stop route from Bellingham/Vancouver to a destination in Florida!...this is a long shot, though.

What's going in place of the UPS used to be?

Allegiant is going to be constructing a building where the vacant UPS building sits, it has been in the works for a few months now. As for Allegiant's growth at PIE, the rumors and speculations are that G4 will connect a few more cities but will add more frequencies on key routes. They have already started it on some routes like CVG and PIT. The overall goal though is to offer connections and go international out of PIE.

And as a side note we have 3 total MD80s operating out of here. 410, 420, 878 were here this morning. Was told they would be here until the end of the month.[/quote]

timberwolf24 wrote:

Take this with a grain of salt, but I heard PIE-MDW or GYY is being looked at.

Gary would be interesting. That was a city served out of PIE from prior airlines but I'm curious how that would affect RFD.

Biged wrote:

They should move over to TPA

Any specific reason why?

deltadudejg wrote:

And as a side note we have 3 total MD80s operating out of here. 410, 420, 878 were here this morning. Was told they would be here until the end of the month.

Y E S!!!

Thank God for this thread

Biged wrote:

They should move over to TPA

Why? Cheaper costs at PIE, high is their whole business model. Plenty of leverage to get airport authority to expand, compared to what would be cramped at TPA. Zero competition at the airport. Closer to the resorts they push.

727LOVER wrote:

deltadudejg wrote:

And as a side note we have 3 total MD80s operating out of here. 410, 420, 878 were here this morning. Was told they would be here until the end of the month.

Y E S!!!

Thank God for this thread

Got a newer update today that they may be here through the summer. I am curious though if they will rotate them out or keep the same 3 here.

rajincajun01 wrote:

Biged wrote:

They should move over to TPA

Why? Cheaper costs at PIE, high is their whole business model. Plenty of leverage to get airport authority to expand, compared to what would be cramped at TPA. Zero competition at the airport. Closer to the resorts they push.

Thank you.

deltadudejg wrote:

727LOVER wrote:

deltadudejg wrote:

And as a side note we have 3 total MD80s operating out of here. 410, 420, 878 were here this morning. Was told they would be here until the end of the month.

Y E S!!!

Thank God for this thread

Got a newer update today that they may be here through the summer. I am curious though if they will rotate them out or keep the same 3 here.

rajincajun01 wrote:

Biged wrote:

They should move over to TPA

Why? Cheaper costs at PIE, high is their whole business model. Plenty of leverage to get airport authority to expand, compared to what would be cramped at TPA. Zero competition at the airport. Closer to the resorts they push.

Thank you.

I’m sure they will rotate them out as maintenance is required on them. After all, all the parts for them are in SFB. It will be interesting to see what they do with the 80 pilot group if they intend to keep them there the entire summer. Might almost make sense to have a temporary TDY vacancy for a few pilots for next few months.

rajincajun01 wrote:

Biged wrote:

They should move over to TPA

Why? Cheaper costs at PIE, high is their whole business model. Plenty of leverage to get airport authority to expand, compared to what would be cramped at TPA. Zero competition at the airport. Closer to the resorts they push.

I'm pondering if perhaps TPA wants to design an airside specific for ULCC's such as G4. Their growth at PIE is enviable, and no doubt Lopano wants some of that pie. With Airside D to be used as the new international gateway, that would leave Airside B as the only viable footprint to grow until the North Terminal is developed. A smaller airside with a minimalist approach, perhaps with no jetways to account for the constrained space, and move the bag sort to Airside A where there's space for what would have been reserved for customs/immigration formalities.

no reason to move to TPA, PIE is much more convenient and easy to get in and out of. Not to mention closer to the beaches. Remember when they tried shifting some flights from SFB to MCO? That didnt work out and they went back to SFB. They have PIE all to themselves, much like they have SFB for Orlando.

Just completed AAY 891 this evening from FWA to PIE on N420NV. Originally planned as an A320 but was pleasantly surprised to find a Mad Dog sitting at the gait waiting for me in FWA! I cherished the experience as I knew it was probably one of my last on that beauty!

There isn’t an extra MD80 in LAS they could ferry in? If there isn’t, they couldn’t lease a plane from Swift, Miami Air, etc?

CIDFlyer wrote:

no reason to move to TPA, PIE is much more convenient and easy to get in and out of. Not to mention closer to the beaches. Remember when they tried shifting some flights from SFB to MCO? That didnt work out and they went back to SFB. They have PIE all to themselves, much like they have SFB for Orlando.

Exactly. In fact, part of the reason G4 shifted everything back to SFB was also because travelers were very unhappy with using MCO. SFB and PIE are airports that are perfect for G4.