Allegiant Air, a low-cost carrier based in Las Vegas, is known for connecting smaller regional airports to major leisure destinations. By focusing on underserved routes, Allegiant has built a strong network that caters to budget-conscious travelers. Recent data from AvBench highlights the airline’s top 20 busiest routes, providing insights into passenger volume, market share, and year-over-year (YoY) growth trends.
This analysis explores Allegiant’s most popular routes, identifying key trends, growth opportunities, and challenges that shape the airline’s market strategy.
Allegiant Air’s 20 Busiest Routes (2024)
A review of Allegiant’s top-performing routes reveals distinct trends, with some routes showing strong growth while others face declines. The following table summarizes key performance indicators:
Top 20 Busiest Allegiant Air Routes
| Rank | Route | Total Passengers | Market Share | Allegiant Passengers | YoY Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allentown – Orlando | 226,000 | 96% | 216,960 | +0.9% |
| 2 | Phoenix – Provo | 225,000 | 83% | 186,750 | -10.5% |
| 3 | Orlando – Knoxville | 196,000 | 75% | 147,000 | -1.9% |
| 4 | Asheville – Miami | 192,000 | 86% | 165,120 | +2.1% |
| 5 | Asheville – Orlando | 166,000 | 89% | 147,740 | +2.5% |
| 6 | Asheville – Tampa | 150,000 | 90% | 135,000 | +2.7% |
| 7 | Fresno – Las Vegas | 147,000 | 53% | 77,910 | -1.5% |
| 8 | Bellingham – Las Vegas | 133,000 | 71% | 94,430 | -0.3% |
| 9 | Tampa – Knoxville | 133,000 | 86% | 114,380 | -0.1% |
| 10 | Los Angeles – Provo | 121,000 | 44% | 53,240 | -22.0% |
| 11 | Cincinnati – Tampa | 114,000 | 25% | 28,500 | -2.9% |
| 12 | Cincinnati – Ft Walton | 108,000 | 94% | 101,520 | +0.5% |
| 13 | Miami – Knoxville | 106,000 | 70% | 74,200 | -3.0% |
| 14 | Grand Rapids – Orlando | 105,000 | 35% | 36,750 | -0.7% |
| 15 | Cincinnati – Orlando | 104,000 | 17% | 17,680 | -1.2% |
| 16 | Fargo – Phoenix | 102,000 | 79% | 80,580 | +6.0% |
| 17 | Grand Rapids – Tampa | 100,000 | 58% | 58,000 | -1.0% |
| 18 | Sioux Falls – Phoenix | 98,000 | 70% | 68,600 | +0.9% |
| 19 | Cincinnati – Fort Myers | 98,000 | 28% | 27,440 | -3.9% |
| 20 | Las Vegas – Sacramento | 95,000 | 8% | 7,600 | -1.1% |
Key Market Insights
High-Performing Routes
- Allentown – Orlando (ABE-MCO): Allegiant dominates this route with a 96% market share and 226,000 passengers, maintaining steady 0.9% YoY growth.
- Asheville – Orlando (AVL-MCO): With 166,000 passengers and an 89% market share, this route grew 2.5% YoY, reflecting strong demand.
- Fargo – Phoenix (FAR-PHX): One of the fastest-growing routes, showing a 6.0% YoY increase, driven by rising interest in the leisure corridor.
Declining Routes
- Los Angeles – Provo (LAX-PVU): This route suffered the steepest decline with -22.0% YoY growth, possibly due to increased competition or shifting demand.
- Phoenix – Provo (PHX-PVU): Passenger numbers dropped 10.5% YoY, indicating potential demand challenges.
- Bellingham – Las Vegas (BLI-LAS): Despite being a long-established route, it saw a -3.9% YoY decline, suggesting weakening demand.
Emerging Routes
- Asheville – Tampa (AVL-TPA): This route posted consistent growth, increasing 2.7% YoY, reinforcing Allegiant’s strength in secondary markets.
- Sioux Falls – Phoenix (FSD-PHX): With 98,000 passengers and +0.9% growth, this route continues to show strong demand.
Allegiant’s Strategic Approach
Allegiant Air’s business model focuses on point-to-point routes between smaller cities and leisure destinations. Several factors influence route performance:
1. Dominance in Underserved Markets
- Allegiant enjoys high market share in routes like Allentown-Orlando (96%) and Cincinnati-Ft Walton (94%), as major airlines do not compete aggressively on these routes.
- By focusing on underserved cities, Allegiant minimizes competition and maintains profitability.
2. Competitive and Seasonal Challenges
- Some routes, such as Los Angeles-Provo and Phoenix-Provo, have seen demand declines, possibly due to competition or shifting travel preferences.
- Seasonal travel demand significantly affects leisure-focused routes, leading to fluctuations in passenger volume.
3. Revenue vs. Volume Strategy
- While high passenger volume is crucial, Allegiant prioritizes profitability, which may result in reducing flight frequency on underperforming routes.
- Adjustments in fleet deployment and pricing strategies help optimize revenue generation.
4. Expanding Secondary Market Connections
- Allegiant has successfully expanded in cities like Asheville, Knoxville, and Sioux Falls, connecting them to major tourist destinations.
- This strategy allows the airline to tap into markets with less competition and stable demand.
Allegiant Air’s busiest routes demonstrate a mix of high-performing, emerging, and declining markets. While some routes, like Allentown-Orlando and Fargo-Phoenix, continue to show growth, others, such as Los Angeles-Provo and Phoenix-Provo, face challenges.
The airline’s success lies in focusing on underserved routes, maintaining high market share, and adapting to seasonal trends. However, competition, economic conditions, and demand fluctuations play a crucial role in shaping future performance. As Allegiant refines its strategy, understanding market trends will be key to sustaining profitability and growth.
