Saturday, August 17, 2024
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Southwest Airlines will launch seasonal flights from Austin to Omaha this November, stepping in as Allegiant Air plans to discontinue the route early next year.
Southwest Airlines is set to launch seasonal flights from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Omaha Airport (OMA) starting this November. Allegiant Air, which currently serves this route, plans to discontinue the service early next year.
Filling the Gap
At present, Allegiant Air is the sole carrier offering flights between AUS and OMA. However, in June, the airline revealed plans to shut down its AUS base on January 7th of next year, marking the end of its operations there after just three years.
As previously highlighted by Simple Flying, Allegiant Air will remove at least six routes from its schedule, including flights to Omaha, which will end on October 28th this year. Other routes affected 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 disruption. According to KXAN, Southwest will operate this route on select Saturdays from November through January, with a reduced frequency continuing in February and March. The current schedule extends through March 5th, 2025.
In March, Southwest began flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, followed by the launch of a route to Boston in June. However, the airline has also made adjustments by canceling less favorable routes at Austin. Earlier this month, Southwest discontinued flights to Cozumel, Mexico. Simple Flying has reached out to Southwest for further comments on these changes.
Bridging the gap
Allegiant Air is closing its base at Austin just three years after establishing it, which includes an unconfirmed $75 million planned investment. 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 been scaling back its routes due to limited aircraft availability, a consequence of multiple delays in Boeing’s delivery of the 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft. These delays also led Allegiant to reduce the number of aircraft it originally planned to acquire.
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 slated for demolition to make way for a new midfield concourse. Allegiant noted that the alternative space offered by the airport was insufficient to support its operational needs.
Although the South Terminal’s demolition is not scheduled until 2026, Allegiant has opted to preemptively close its base at AUS. This decision leaves SkyWest as the only airline maintaining a crew base at the airport.
Southwest Airlines’ strategy to offer flights from Austin to Omaha at a reduced capacity is a smart move, as Allegiant’s exit creates an opportunity in the market. By providing a seasonal service, Southwest can accurately assess demand and adjust flight frequency as needed. This approach allows Southwest to take over a pre-existing route, tapping into an established customer base, which could lead to increased profitability.