Allegiant Airlines begins its nonstop trips to popular Florida vacation destination
SALISBURY -- One by one Thursday afternoon 166 people returned their seat backs and folding trays to their full and upright position as Allegiant Airline's first flight departed from cloud-covered Salisbury to sunny Orlando.
As it rained outside the airport Thursday evening, Tom and Charlotte Trice waited in line to pick up their boarding pass before working their way through security and eventually boarding the flight to 82-degree Orlando.
Both Tom and Charlotte Trice have taken the connecting flights to Charlotte, N.C., before and are excited to have a direct option so close.
"I hope it's a success," said Charlotte Trice while accepting baggage tags from an airport employee. "I think it would be great for the county."
Even though their flight will land in Orlando, Tom and Charlotte Trice plan to rent a car and drive farther south to reach their son's house.
They both say they are looking forward to having an easier way to travel to Florida.
Airport Manager Bob Bryant said as many as 300 people were in the terminal around the time the Allegiant flight was scheduled to take off because of the additional departing and incoming flights by US Airways.
Bryant also said there will be some changes coming up for the airport on Thursday and Sunday as additional passengers fly out of and into Salisbury via Allegiant. Along with the changes, he says airport personnel are willing to make some changes in policy so everyone makes their flights.
"We know there is going to be a period where US Airways Express passengers will mix with Allegiant Airlines passengers and if we need to bump some people to the front of the line so they can make their flight, that will happen," Bryant said. "But that doesn't give the opportunity to show up 30 minutes before a US Airways departure."
Bob and Penny Wheatley weren't at any risk of missing their flight, however, as the couple arrived two hours before the flight began boarding.
Neither had flown out of the airport for years, but said the convenience of a nonstop flight made it an easy choice as a way to get to Florida to celebrate their granddaughter's birthday.
Bob Wheatley also believes the flights will be a good way for the airport to create more business.
Allegiant began looking at Salisbury as another hub for their service following the runway extension and upgrades that were completed in summer 2011.
According to airport officials, Orlando is already the most popular final destination for passengers leaving Salisbury, but connecting flights have been necessary in the past. Bryant said the airport expects customers from Dover to Northampton County to utilize the service.
To boost the number of customers utilizing their flights Allegiant Airlines sponsored a $59.99 introductory one-way price.
"We are pleased to extend the Allegiant brand of low-cost travel services to Salisbury and Delmarva Peninsula residents," said Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant Travel Company president. "We are confident the community will appreciate our affordable and convenient air service, as well as the value of booking hotel rooms and car rentals through us."
Allegiant Air flights are scheduled to depart from the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport at 6:55 p.m. every Thursday and Sunday, according to Bryant.
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