Do you travel through Allegiant Air? Well, there are plenty of reasons to choose it. Its budget-friendly rates and luxurious ride are a favorite to many, but unfortunately, the airline will not operate as early. Why? The increased airport costs!
As soon as you hear the news, you will first ask: Will it affect my route? How will it operate now? It’s disheartening that its 16 years of market presence will shut down in the coming months.
It is just a closure for a few people, but those who have been throughout the airline company, including passengers and crews, only know how it will affect their lives. You can check out this blog if you are a frequent Allegiant airline traveler curious about its future.
What’s Happening to Allegiant Airlines?
According to the verified sources, the airline is in the news for terminating its LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) crew base. The announcement indicates it will no longer keep pilots, plans, and crew members permanently focused in Los Angeles.
By when? Well, several reports showcased that the closure will be effective after 16 years of operations at LAX on September 2, 2025. However, it will keep serving Los Angeles with flights from other cities. It’s just that it will permanently close at LAX.
The company message on this announcement reads:
“Los Angeles is an important city to our network.”
“… We will continue to serve Los Angeles with all flights operating as turns from other bases, providing our customers with the exceptional service they have come to expect from Allegiant.”
LAX, one of the busiest U.S. airports, has a few travel options for budget-conscious individuals. Now, its closure doesn’t seem good news for their regular clients as they will have to rely on high-priced airlines after September 2.
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Why is Allegiant LAX Base Closing?
Now that you know the date of Allegiant Airlines Los Angeles base closure, you might be finding the root cause. Not only one, but a couple of reasons together led Allegiant to reach the closure decision.
Surviving in the LAX airport has turned pricey for Allegiant as it runs on a low-cost business model, making it extremely difficult for the airline. Based on the airline’s statement, the airport charges around $50 per departing passenger, indicating a higher quote than industry standards.
Deep down, Allegiant might be finding ways to cut these expenses while still flying to Los Angeles from other airports, all just by removing its base from LAX.
Impact of Base Closures on Passengers and Crews
If I talk about the crew members and employees, it can be noticed that the closure will impact approximately 200 LAX workers, including 89 flight attendants and 127 pilots. To this, Allegiant offered transfers to other bases, but many employees would choose to leave the job as the shift can be expensive and challenging.
Since the company announced the closure on March 3, 2025, it gave employees plenty of time to decide whether to continue with the transfers. Allegiant employees want to resign effective August 31, 2025, giving them full leverage to choose either choice voluntarily.
To the customers, the airline company confirmed that they will still cover Los Angeles, but are restructuring operations to maintain their budget.
All Allegiant Air Route Cancellations
While the company shuts its crew base, it will continue flying to Los Angeles. Some routes are gone, while others will operate less frequently than before, keeping LA only a destination, not a crew base. The base closure caused the airline to discontinue nine popular routes from LAX, including:
- Billings (BIL)
- Des Moines (DSM)
- Laredo (LRD)
- Memphis (MEM)
- Glacier Park/Kalispell (FCA)
- Pasco (PSC)
- Rapid City (RAP)
- Medford (MFR)
- Rockford (RFD)
You can depart from the other airport if you live on the cancelled route and still want to fly with Allegiant. Alternatively, you can connect through an Allegiant hub if your direct route to LAX is cancelled.
FAQs
Is Allegiant Air in Financial Trouble?
Currently, the airline isn’t facing any financial strains and it continues to serve even in leisure-centred markets. It seems the LAX closure is mainly a cost-effective approach for increased airport fees, and not a sign of financial issues. The company is shifting to low-cost airports where it can operate more seamlessly.
Why is Allegiant Leaving LAX?
As per the sources, Allegiant LAX base closing is due to increased operational costs at the airport. LAX charges around $50 per departing passenger, which doesn’t align with the company’s low-cost business strategy. Leaving LAX’s base is due to cutting down unnecessary expenses to serve better at other favourable hubs.
Why are Allegiant Airlines So Cheap?
The airline keeps the fare cost low by operating through a low-cost model. Moreover, Allegiant mainly flies to smaller, affordable airports and charges separately for lucrative features. Additionally, they use a small fleet variety and high aircraft utilization for proper maintenance, keeping the price ideal for budget-concious individuals.
Wrapping-Up
Allegiant LAX base closing news addresses the challenges that most low-cost airlines often face at big and costly airports, including LAX. Additionally, if Allegiant shuts LAX crew base on September 2, it will lead to disastrous troubles for passengers, crews, and the natives.
The shift affected employees and was devastating news for the frequent clients. If you know someone in Los Angeles traveling through Allegiant, you can update them through this article.
