Allegiant Air, the ultra-low-cost carrier based in Nevada, sprang into existence a little over a quarter of a century ago. Ever since, it has partnered with the Make-A-Wish foundation, giving flickers of hope to thousands of children; supported local clubs and kept its employees at the forefront by painting its aircraft into the colors chosen by the people who work for this carrier
During its operations, it has served passengers through the Airbus aircraft it owns, alongside the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, and Boeing 757s, and hopes to introduce the Boeing 737 MAX. The airline also built the $720 million Sunseeker resort, and some people wondered if this project was the craziest that this Nevada-based carrier carried out.
With a rich history spanning so many wonderful projects, it isn’t easy to pick which milestones have defined the shape of this carrier. Nonetheless, we will dive into the details of some events in this airline’s history that have been nothing short of landmarks.
The milestones in the 2000s
The bankruptcy that made the airline switch to a low-cost model
In 2000, Allegiant Air filed for bankruptcy. The major creditor of the airline (someone who was also the founder of ValuJet), Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., gained control of the airline and changed the airline’s business into a low-cost model. The airline also wanted to focus on smaller markets where larger airlines did not serve with mainline aircraft.
In the next two years, the airline exited bankruptcy. A few other notable events followed. These include:
Allegiant partnered with Harrah’s “to provide charter services to its casinos in Laughlin and Reno.”
By 2004, the airline was delivering bundled air and hotel packages to Las Vegas from 13 cities.
The unique strategy of the airline has allowed it to remain profitable for nearly 70 quarters since 2003.
Going all public in 2007
Around the end of 2006, Allegiant Air became a public company. After its planned initial public offering, the airline raised $94.5 million in equity capital. The 5.75 million shares of the company were worth $18 each.
The milestones in 2010
By 2010, Allegiant Air had already flown one million passengers from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA) airport. Many new aircraft were added to the airline’s fleet, and some other interesting developments took place this decade.
A redesigned logo
The airline logo changes with time. American Airlines, one of the most prominent carriers in the US, has adopted a more sleek logo recently, despite keeping true to its original colors. Something similar happened with Allegiant Air, whose logo has a symbol of the sun above its name. According to logos-world.net, this element is:
“ part of the crest of Las Vegas, where the company’s headquarters are located and refers to the seal of the state of Nevada. Using the sun in the logo highlights Allegiant’s dedication to its “homeland” and is associated with the start of a new day, symbolizing the company’s aspiration for gradual flourishing. The sun’s positioning is interpreted as a setting symbol, indirectly reflecting the company’s original desire to be called “West,” indicating its focus on operations in the western United States. This dual symbolism adds depth and complexity to the company’s visual identity.”