Saturday, August 17, 2024
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Southwest Airlines will begin seasonal flights from Austin to Omaha this November, stepping in as Allegiant Air plans to discontinue the route early next year.
Southwest Airlines starts seasonal flights from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (OUT OF) To Omaha Airport (GRANNY) starting this November. Allegiant Air, which currently serves this route, plans to discontinue service early next year.
Filling the gap
Currently, Allegiant Air is the only airline offering flights between AUS and OMA, but in June the airline announced that it plans to close its base in AUS on January 7 next year, ending operations there after just three years.
As previously highlighted by Simple Flying, Allegiant Air will be eliminating at least six routes from its schedule, including flights to Omaha, which will be discontinued on October 28 of this year. Other affected routes include:
- Eugene Airport, Oregon
- Las Vegas International Airport, Nevada
- Washington Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC
Southwest Airlines’ entry into the Omaha market in November ensures that travelers will experience minimal service disruptions. According to KXAN, Southwest will operate this route on select Saturdays from November through January, while maintaining reduced frequency in February and March. The current schedule is in effect through March 5, 2025.
In March, Southwest began flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, followed by a route to Boston in June. However, the airline has also made adjustments and eliminated less convenient routes in Austin. Earlier this month, Southwest suspended flights to Cozumel, Mexico. Simple Flying has reached out to Southwest for further comment on these changes.
Closing the gap
Allegiant Air is closing its Austin base just three years after its founding, which included an unconfirmed planned investment of $75 million. The decision is attributed to two main factors.
The first factor is the airline’s reduced presence at the airport. Over the past three years, Allegiant has reduced its routes due to limited aircraft availability, a consequence of several delays in the delivery of the 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft. These delays also caused Allegiant to reduce the number of aircraft originally planned.
The second factor influencing Allegiant Air’s decision is the impending closure of the low-cost South Terminal at Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which is scheduled to be demolished to make way for a new central concourse. Allegiant determined that the alternative space offered by the airport was insufficient to meet its operational needs.
Although the demolition of the South Terminal is not scheduled until 2026, Allegiant has decided to close its base at AUS as a precautionary measure. With this decision, SkyWest is the only airline to maintain a crew base at the airport.
Southwest Airlines’ strategy of offering flights from Austin to Omaha with reduced capacity is a smart move, as Allegiant’s exit creates an opportunity in the market. By providing seasonal service, Southwest can accurately gauge demand and adjust flight frequency as needed. This approach allows Southwest to take over an already existing route and tap into an established customer base, which could lead to greater profitability.
