Allegiant Air, which just arrived at the Akron-Canton Airport in the spring of 2015, is leaving for Cleveland.
In an announcement Wednesday in Cleveland, Allegiant said it was doubling its presence in Northeast Ohio and moving existing service from Akron-Canton to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The destinations moving from Akron to Cleveland include Tampa Bay, Fla.; Orlando; Fort Lauderdale, Fla; Punta Gorda/Fort Myers, Fla.; Savannah, Ga. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Passengers with existing reservations on or after the move on Feb. 15 from Akron-Canton can move their departure to Cleveland or receive a full refund, the airline said.
In addition to moving the existing routes, the airline said it would offer four new nonstop routes from Cleveland this winter to Jacksonville, Fla.; Austin, Texas; New Orleans and Phoenix.
The Akron-Canton Airport said it was informed by Allegiant Air “that despite great performance at Akron-Canton Airport they will cease service at CAK on February 15, 2017.
“Although we hate to lose any airline service, we do not anticipate a significant impact from this announcement as customers have many other exceptional vacation destination options from CAK including new service from Spirit Airlines beginning Nov. 10,” the airport said in a statement.
Akron-Canton Airport President and Chief Executive Officer Rick McQueen said the airport was notified of the change Wednesday morning before the announcement.
“It’s always disappointing to lose air service,” he said. “It’s a very precious commodity to the community. The Akron and Canton community really supported that service. Year-to-date, they had an 88 percent load factor. It’s very disappointing when you hear that.”
But McQueen, who has been with the Akron-Canton Airport for 34 years, said he’s also seen plenty of airlines depart the airport, including Southwest, which pulled all of its flights in April except three daily to Atlanta.
“You look at the disappointment and then you we move forward,” he said.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said he was also disappointed, but pointed to the airport’s positive qualities.
“It’s a great location. They just made some major capital upgrades. We still think it offers all of the best amenities,” Horrigan said in a phone interview.
Regarding Allegiant, he said “we would have liked to have seen them stay and grow the business here.”
Allegiant’s departure from Akron to Cleveland “just shows the volatility” of the airline industry, said Rick Rebadow, executive vice president of the Greater Akron Chamber.
“Are we disappointed? Yes. Is that going to hurt us from a regional economic development standpoint? No,” Rebadow said.
“It’s a cycle,” he said. “Right now, we’re disappointed, needless to say, but we also know that with Spirit Airlines beginning on Nov. 10, I think we are not going to lose or skip a beat. It’s really going to offer the same opportunities: low-cost fares. The airport is still a very competitive airport in a unique location that can offer low-cost air service very conveniently. All the attributes are still there.”
Rebadow and McQueen said they also see opportunities for other existing airlines to add destinations to fill gaps.
On Nov. 10, Spirit begins daily service to Orlando International Airport and Fort Lauderdale. Around the same time, the airline also will add seasonal service several times a week to Tampa and Fort Myers. On April 27, it will begin daily service to Myrtle Beach.
With Spirit’s arrival, the only destination it will truly be losing from the airport with Allegiant’s departure is Savannah/Hilton Head, McQueen said.
McQueen said airport officials will be talking to existing airlines — Delta, American, United and Southwest — about bringing new services.
On Oct. 6, American already plans to add twice daily nonstop service to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport a second flight to New York’s LaGuardia airport.
All of the airlines that are served by Akron-Canton are also served at Hopkins, McQueen said.
Despite the departures of Allegiant and Southwest, the airport is on track to see a year-over-year increase in seats by April, the one-year anniversary of Southwest reducing its flights, McQueen said.
Jude Bricker, Allegiant chief operating officer, said in statement that the move from Akron-Canton to Cleveland “will allow Allegiant to have a stronger presence in Northeast Ohio and allow us to offer our low fares and convenient travel to even more travelers.”
Hopkins Interim Airport Director Fred Szabo said: “Not only are we pleased to have Allegiant as our newest business partner at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, we’re encouraged with the variety of destinations they are adding for our passengers. Of the 10 markets they will be flying, we are initiating services to four new markets and adding service to six destinations.”
Customers with Allegiant Air reservations after Feb. 15 should contact the airline directly at www.allegiantair.com or by calling 702-505-8888.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinsFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty