Allegiant Air takes flight

Allegiant Air's inaugural flight Thursday from the Central Nebraska Regional Airport to Las Vegas was a big hit.

A total of 147 people had tickets that were sold anywhere from $29 to $100 a seat.

But Allegiant announced an even better price Thursday.

A free flight is being offered in conjunction with the purchase of a single air/hotel package by Sept. 17 that is used by Dec. 15.

"We pride ourselves with being a low-fare carrier," said Allegiant spokeswoman Sabrina LoPiccolo.

The nonstop jet service is on a 150-seat MD-80. The plane has a pilot, co-pilot, three flight attendants, refreshments and a bathroom.

Allegiant flights were recruited to Grand Island by the Hall County Airport Authority, which offered $75,000 of annual incentive money, $40,000 in marketing funds and bought a $28,000 loading ramp that can accommodate wheelchairs because it has no stairs.

"I did the easy part getting them here -- the community has to do the hard part in keeping them here by supporting the air service," said airport Executive Director Mike Olson. "Everyone needs to fly to Vegas at least once a year."

Lyn Guyette of Grand Island has no trouble with that.

She typically goes about two to three times a year, but routinely flew out of Lincoln. Allegiant contacted her earlier this year to notify her the Lincoln flights were being rescheduled -- out of Grand Island.

"I think it's great. I'm just 15 minutes away," from the airport, she said as she prepared to board Thursday's inaugural 5:10 p.m. flight.

Bob and Marlene Samuelson and traveling friends Dave and Pat Gartner, all of Hastings, were also excited about the new opportunity.

"What we'll really appreciate is the drive home -- just 20 minutes instead of driving home from Omaha when you're tired," Bob Samuelson said. "This is awesome."

"I think we'll go (to Vegas) more often," his wife nudged.

The Samuelsons, Gartners and all the passengers were being checked in by employees of the airport's fixed-base operator, Trego-Dugan Aviation.

"We've never done this before in the 40-year history of our company, but this is a diversification for us," said Vince Dugan, Trego-Dugan co-owner.

He said Trego-Dugan hired seven new part-timers and retrained 20 other employees, who typically handle fueling and plane maintenance, to now also take care of ticketing, boarding and baggage duties, which Allegiant subcontracted out.

While LoPiccolo said Allegiant typically focuses on leisure destinations such as Las Vegas and points in Florida, other uses have already been seen in the Grand Island market.

"It's business travel, too," said airport board member Jim Roe, who also manages an airport-based car rental business. "We have a number of people going out for fun, but staying over for business seminars or conventions."

Airport board member Harold Rosenkotter stressed that the Las Vegas flight is not a charter -- it is a scheduled point-to-point flight. That means someone flying out on Thursday could come back Sunday or the following Thursday, or could stay a month or more before returning, he said.

"You can fly out on both Thursdays and Sundays," said airport board chairman Curtis Griess. "It's boardings, people, excitement in Grand Island."

Allegiant is flying from Grand Island to Las Vegas twice a week on Thursday and Sunday.

Flights will leave Grand Island at 12:40 p.m. and arrive at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas at 1:20 p.m. Flights from Las Vegas leave at 7:35 a.m. and arrive in Grand Island at noon.

The airline's Web site at www.allegiantair.com includes package deals for hotel, rental cars and Grand Canyon tours.

It also offers low-cost packages with 54 Las Vegas hotels including the Bellagio, Venetian, Paris, MGM Grand, Caesars, Mirage, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Harrah's, Treasure Island, Golden Nugget and Planet Hollywood.

Flights can be booked through the Web site, through the airline's reservation center at (702) 505-8888 or through travel agents.