Can't get to Las Vegas from here on Allegiant

Flights could resume if jet fuel prices drop, carrier says

Huntsville is one of six cities losing their Las Vegas flights by the low-fare carrier Allegiant Air.

An Allegiant Air spokeswoman said Monday the airline could consider bringing back the Las Vegas flight to Huntsville if fuel prices improve.

Allegiant Air, which had launched an $89 one-way flight from Huntsville International Airport to Las Vegas in September, announced last week it will suspend the service as of Dec. 10. Other cities losing the Las Vegas flights are Lansing, Mich.; Springfield, Ill.; Champagne, Ill.; Marion, Ill., and Gulfport, Miss.

"It's a difficult decision we have to make when we cancel service," said Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres. "We would not have left the Huntsville market" if not faced with escalating fuel costs.

Jet fuel costs have climbed 50 percent since January - from $1.97 a gallon in the first quarter to about $3 a gallon now, Squyres said.

If prices were to improve, "we would definitely look to" returning the Las Vegas flight to Huntsville, she said. "We will still have service to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale."

The Orlando flight started Thursday, and the Fort Lauderdale flight will be added on Dec. 13.

All six routes that were suspended are "long-haul" routes, Squyres said.

"We're disappointed in losing this (Las Vegas) service," said Barbie Peek, the Huntsville airport's marketing director. "We hope that, as the market adjusts to the fuel costs, (Allegiant) will re-evaluate their long-haul markets and consider bringing back the Las Vegas service.

"We're still excited about Allegiant being in our market and bringing low fares to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale."