Summary
- Allegiant Air started flying out of Provo Municipal Airport in 2013 when Frontier Airlines abandoned the airport due to poor performance.
- Currently, Allegiant Air flies to 10 destinations throughout the United States from Provo. Many of these flights land at secondary airports in their regions.
- Provo is a great location for Allegiant Air because it fits the airline’s philosophy of serving secondary markets. Provo is also a great market for an ultra-low-cost airline because of the major colleges in the region.
Table of Contents
Allegiant Air is an ultra-low-cost carrier that has expanded its flight network to Provo, Utah in the last 10+ years. It was partially responsible for keeping commercial aviation alive at the airport once Frontier Airlines departed in 2013.
Today, Allegiant has designated Prove Municipal Airport as a base of operations. They offer 11 nonstop flights from this airport to 10 destinations scattered all across the United States.
In this guide, we’ll break down the history of Allegiant in Provo and take a deep dive into some of the flight routes flown out of this Utah destination.
History of Allegiant Air in Provo
Provo Municipal Airport is a significant airport in Utah. With Salt Lake City International Airport being the state’s most prominent airport, Utah residents have to drive long distances from various corners of the state to get to an airport with significant air carrier coverage.
The airport also serves a role for college students as it is located near Brigham Young University. College students there can use Provo Municipal Airport as their gateway to arrive at college as well as fly home after the semester.
Replacing Frontier Airlines
Allegiant Air got its start at Provo Municipal Airport in 2013 when it replaced Frontier Airlines at the airport. At this time, Allegiant would be the only air carrier left operating from the airport saving commercial aviation at the airport.
The first announced flight by Allegiant was a route between Provo and Phoenix Gateway Airport.
Service was further extended when Allegiant announced nonstop flights to Oakland, California, and then later in the year Los Angeles.
This cemented that the airline was serious about having a presence in Provo and was willing to fill the void left by Frontier Airlines.
Initial Route Expansions and Consolidation
In 2016, San Diego was added as a twice-a-week Allegiant Air destination from Provo Municipal Airport. The idea was that Provo was going to be a gateway for Southern California residents looking for a backup option to flying into Salt Lake City. They marketed Utah’s recreational activities like its national parks and canyons, watersports, and hiking.
Despite the quick rollout of these new routes, in 2016 the airline decided to roll back service to Oakland and San Diego in 2018.
Post Pandemic Expansion and Announcement of Base of Operation
In 2021, Allegiant announced a further expansion of routes this time to Palm Springs, California, and Houston, Texas. This same year, the airline also expanded service to Austin, Texas, and Tampa, Florida.
Allegiant decided to use Provo Municipal Airport as a base of operations going forward in 2022. Along with that announcement, the airline released 4 new routes to leisurely destinations across the United States.
Flights to Orlando, Las Vegas, and Portland were now available for customers. They also reinstated the flight to San Diego. The routes to Palm Springs and Tampa unfortunately did not survive.
Routes that Allegiant Air flies from Provo
As of April 2024, Allegiant Air has 10 routes out of Provo Municipal Airport.
Most of these routes are seasonal, meaning they are only offered at certain times of the year. This is understandable since a large demand for air travel ebbs and flows depending on the time of year.
Provo most likely receives spikes of traffic during the college months with students arriving and departing. Demand also increases during Utah’s tourism seasons centered around winter sports or summer hiking.
One thing to also notice is the some of the secondary airports that Allegiant flies to. Outside of Las Vegas, Phoenix Sky-Harbor, and Nashville, these other airports can be considered secondary airports in their respective regions.
Below are the routes currently offered from Provo by Allegiant Air.
| Destination City | Destination Airport | Offering | Aircraft Type |
| Chicago | Chicago Midway Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Nashville | Nashville International Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Orlando | Orlando Sanford | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Houston | William P.Hobby International Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Austin | Austin International | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Phoenix – Sky Harbor | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Phoenix – Gateway | Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Las Vegas | Harry Reid International Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| San Diego | San Diego International Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Santa Ana (Orange County) | John Wayne Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
| Portland | Portland International Airport | Seasonal | Airbus A320-100/200 |
Allegiant Air’s Competition at the Airport
As for competition at the airport, the only major competitor at the moment is Breeze Airways, which also uses Provo as its base of operations.
There are not many overlaps for routes between the two airlines as they both have different business models. The only mutual destination between Breeze and Allegiant Air is Phoenix Sky Harbor. Allegiant Air still dominates the market share of this route considering that it offers flights to both area airports in Phoenix.
Allegiant Air also faces limited competition from American Eagle, which is American Airlines’s regional brand. American Eagle flies to Phoenix-Sky Harbor and Dallas from Provo.
Considering that a flight on American Eagle can potentially be more expensive than an Allegiant Air flight to Phoenix, the latter doesn’t have to worry too much about the market share on the Phoenix route being compromised too much.
Where is Allegiant Air’s Terminal at Provo?
There is only one terminal at Provo Municipal Airport which makes it easy for passengers to find. The terminal is found at the Southern end of the airfield.
Since Breeze and Allegiant are the only two operators out of Provo, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding the check-in desk or your gate either. The terminal at Provo isn’t large by any stretch of the imagination.
Despite being a smaller terminal, the airport recommends passengers arrive at least an hour and a half before their flight departure times due to limited security accommodations. When the airport gets busy, there is a potential for the lines for security to get long.
The terminal is open two hours before the first flight of the day and closes one hour after the last.
What Type of Aircraft Does Allegiant Use at Provo Municipal Airport?
Allegiant Air mostly uses its Airbus A320 fleet for flights out of Provo. The Airbus A320 makes up the bulk of Allegiant Air’s fleet and is a workhorse for the airline.
Allegiant Air’s Airbus A320 can accommodate upwards of 177 passengers per flight. The aircraft is configured in an all-economy class setup.
Despite rumors of Allegiant’s suspected aircraft maintenance breakdowns, passengers should feel confident flying out of Provo with Allegiant.
Provo is a designated base of operations for the airline meaning that company maintenance staff will be on hand to address any aircraft malfunctions.
Final Thoughts about Allegiant Air at Provo Municipal Airport
Allegiant Air’s presence at Provo Municipal Airport makes perfect sense for the airline. The airline established itself by operating from secondary markets instead of larger international airports. With Utah’s main airport being Salt Lake City International Airport, it was a perfect move for Allegiant Air to jump into Provo when Frontier exited.
From the aspect of an ultra-low-cost air carrier, Provo makes sense as well. With BYU located nearby, college students will find cheaper alternatives to the main domestic airlines for flights to get to and from Provo. Allegiant Air offers flights starting for less than $100 to and from Provo.
It can’t be expected that Allegiant will face much more competition besides Breeze Airways at Provo. Salt Lake City will remain the top-tier destination for most majority airlines crazy enough to compete with Delta Air Lines in that market. It doesn’t appear that other ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines or Frontier Airlines would be willing to give Provo a try.
Sources
https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-allegiant-g4
https://universe.byu.edu/2013/08/13/1new-los-angeles-flight-added-to-provo-airport
https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=55406796&itype=CMSID
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2023/11/29/if-you-love-disney-youll-love
https://www.provo.org/city-services/airport/commercial-service
https://www.heraldnet.com/business/allegiant-airs-aircraft-more-likely-to-break-down-in-flight
