HANOVER TWP., Lehigh County, Pa. — One hundred and sixty eight smiling passengers boarded Lehigh Valley International Airport's first direct flight to Orlando International Airport Thursday morning, kicking off a new connection to the airport's most popular destination market.
Staff with LVIA broke out all the stops to celebrate Allegiant Air's 10th connection out of ABE, offering passengers free doughnuts and beverages. One lucky passenger from Allentown won two tickets to any Allegiant flight after Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Executive Director Tom Stoudt drew his seat number from a Disney sorcerer's hat.
The flight also taxied through a ceremonial water arc courtesy of ABE's fire department. It's standard practice for airports.
"If there's one thing we learned here in ABE, there's never enough capacity to vacationers heading to Orlando theme parks."Thomas Stoudt, executive director, Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority
Speaking in front of a balloon display featuring a sun wearing shades and palm trees, Stoudt said airport travelers have long requested flights to Orlando International. ABE already offered about 15 flights a week to Orlando Sanford International Airport, but when Allegiant expressed interest in adding two flights a week to Orlando International, airport officials jumped at the chance.
"If there's one thing we learned here in ABE, there's never enough capacity to vacationers heading to Orlando theme parks," Stoudt said.
Kristy Strobl, a travel agent with Never Grow Up Vacations, said Orlando Sanford is about 40 miles north of popular attractions like Sea World and Universal Studios. Flying to Orlando International cuts a 50-minute drive to the theme parks to about 20 minutes.
"To families, especially those with young children, you don't want to spend an extra half hour in traffic — especially after a long flight," said Strobl, who was handing out business cards, water and electric fans to passengers in the terminal.
That was the appeal for Chelsea Toth of Lowhill Township. She and her husband were taking their two young children on their first vacation to Disney World. With the kids in tow, they were especially motivated to get a direct flight, she said.
"It's very convenient to fly out of here. It's very good," said Toth as she parked a stroller loaded with carry-on luggage. "We can fly right into Orlando, get on the bus and be at Disney."
Allegiant Air, a budget carrier that focuses on direct flight to vacation destinations, has helped pilot a renaissance at Lehigh Valley International Airport over the past few years. The airport spent much of the 2010s enduring austerity cuts as legacy airlines merged and reduced their flights out of smaller airports like ABE.
While American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines each offer connections to destinations, the new flight to Orlando International is Allegiant's 10th connection through ABE. Allegiant made Lehigh Valley International Airport one of its hubs in 2020.
Allegiant's growing presence has coincided with climbing passenger totals at ABE. Last year 930,946 travelers passed through the airport, a 2% increase from 2022 and the airport's highest number of travelers in 20 years.
