Allegiant Airlines flies to new service destinations following a million-dollar Columbia revenue guarantee
Alison Patton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Allegiant Airlines started two new service lines from the Columbia Regional Airport to Destin and Orlando, Florida, earlier this week. The new destinations were made possible through a $1 million revenue guarantee that the Columbia City Council approved in May.
The city has doled out $82,000 from the transportation sales tax as part of the revenue agreement, with $918,000 being made up through public and private contributions, according to council documents. The city’s contract with Allegiant will last for two years, ending in June 2028.
The city will also waive landing fees and facility rents during the two-year contract.
Mike Parks, the airport manager, told city council members that the airport is expecting to make $800,000 in revenue through passenger facility fees, entitlement fees and others during the contract period.
Jason DePrima, a Columbia resident, was one of the first to fly to Orlando.
“Getting through security and everything like that is usually a breeze, and everything’s the same this time. You know, with the Allegiant staff, they were great. They were very welcoming and excited about the new routes from Columbia to Florida,” DePrima said.
Florida resident Alicia Schneider said she flies home to Columbia one or twice a year because flights from Flordia tend to have long layovers or an added two-hour drive to get to her hometown from the Kansas City airport. Now that there are direct flights from Florida to Columbia, she said she’s considering going home more often.
“Prior to direct flights, I would come home probably once or twice a year, so just enough to make holidays or visits,” Schneider said. “Now that there are direct flights, I plan to come home every three to four months.”