HANOVER TOWNSHIP, LEHIGH COUNTY, Pa. — There was a certain irony Thursday morning that the ceremonial water arch meant to send off Allegiant Air’s inaugural flight to Fort Myers was scrubbed.
The risk, officials said, was the likelihood of having to de-ice a plane headed for a much warmer climate.
But the pivot certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of passengers, crew and dignitaries assembled for the celebratory sendoff marking not just another new route for Allegiant, but also 20 years of partnership between Lehigh Valley International Airport and the low-cost carrier.
Dozens gathered beyond the TSA checkpoint inside the Wilfred M. “Wiley” Post Jr. Concourse for the early-morning ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The event featured cake, balloons and remarks from Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Executive Director Thomas Stoudt, who said the milestone reflects both Allegiant’s staying power in the region and the airport’s steady growth as a travel hub.
“As people continue to fly local and fly ABE, we continue to be able to add more and more destinations where people from our region want to go,” Stoudt told the crowd.
“As we continue to grow, we continue to add destinations, and we continue to look forward to the next 20 years with Allegiant.”
Inaugural flight
Leading the countdown to the ribbon-cutting was outgoing Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, in what may have been one of his final ceremonies at LVIA.
“He's a staple. He's been here year after year,” said Colin Riccobon, the airport’s director of public and government relations.
“He has made an amazing impact on the Lehigh Valley and has been so supportive of the airport.”
The new service to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) becomes Allegiant’s 11th nonstop destination from the Lehigh Valley.
It joins cities such as Orlando-Sanford, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Nashville; and Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg and Punta Gorda, Florida.
Introductory one-way fares for the Fort Myers route began at $69, with flights scheduled twice weekly.
Thursday’s inaugural flight departed to fanfare shortly after 9 a.m., with one man on board discovering a golden ticket tucked into brochures handed out to passengers as they boarded the plane.
The ticket was good for one free round-trip on Allegiant Air.
Two decades of growth
Allegiant began operating out of Lehigh Valley International in December 2005, connecting the region to vacation destinations across the country.
The airline’s model — offering low-cost, nonstop flights to leisure markets — proved a strong fit for the Lehigh Valley, where travelers often seek convenience and affordability, Stoudt said.
Over the past few years, Allegiant has expanded and restored routes from ABE as demand for domestic leisure travel rebounded after the pandemic.
The airline added flights to Denver in 2023, and service to Melbourne, Florida and Orlando in recent years.
“They’re always talking with us, and that's fantastic. And again, just another example of their partnership here in the community.”Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Executive Director Thomas Stoudt
For ABE, the partnership has helped drive consistent passenger growth, airport officials said.
They said Allegiant’s presence has encouraged more residents to “fly local,” avoiding the drive to Philadelphia or Newark.
Stoudt said there’s also a long wish list for travelers of destinations they hope Allegiant will connect to next.
“People love to have direct-door connectivity from point to point, and so we're always looking at that data. We're talking to Allegiant all the time,” he said.
“One of the things that's really interesting now is we all travel with a cell phone in our pocket. That cell phone has a lot of data about where we live and where we travel frequently.
“So there's a lot of interesting data that the airline itself can capture just with cell phone data about where people are choosing to travel from a particular region. And so they look at that data. We share those discussions.
"We don't really have a destination or another set of destinations that we particularly are working with Allegiant on at this point, but as they continue to look at opportunities they're always thinking of us.
“They’re always talking with us, and that's fantastic. And again, just another example of their partnership here in the community.”
Looking ahead
As Allegiant enters its third decade in the Lehigh Valley, Stoudt said he’s optimistic the partnership will continue to grow, ensuring great connectivity to some big vacation spots.
He said the shared success is built on listening to what travelers in the area want, then delivering, helping to drive record passenger numbers month after month.
“I think it's really something that we're really proud about and something we're always excited to see more growth and opportunity for connectivity."Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Executive Director Thomas Stoudt
“It’s rewarding for us," he said. "The team here works extremely hard to provide exceptional service to our customers, to our neighbors, the people we live in the community here with.
"And so it's really exciting when we get to see people out in the terminal, and we know a lot of the folks on these aircraft.
“For us, the growth is really a signal to us that we're providing the right connectivity, the places people want to go to, and we're providing a good service.”
Stoudt said feedback indicates travelers are looking at convenience, and the airport makes it easy for people who don't want to drive far to get on an airplane.
“I think it's really something that we're really proud about and something we're always excited to see more growth and opportunity for connectivity,” he said.
The Fort Myers route is expected to draw strong interest this winter, offering Lehigh Valley residents a direct connection to Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches — just in time for the colder and snowier months ahead.
