by Dennis Dalman
This winter, local residents longing to fly south will have a chance to do just that with non-stop flights from the St. Cloud Regional Airport.
Allegiant Airlines recently announced it will offer direct flights to Arizona (Phoenix and Mesa) and to Florida (Punta Gorda and Fort Myers) from October into mid-May.
The flights to those destinations will occur twice weekly. In mid-February, those trips will be increased to four times each week through March. Florida flights will generally run Thursdays and Sundays while Arizona flights will be Wednesdays and Saturdays. When the four flights each week begin, they will be scheduled for Mondays and Fridays.
“We are excited to see the continuation of this Allegiant service, which indicates the success of the past seasons,” said Brian Myres, who is the chair of the Airport Authority Board. “The St. Cloud Regional Airport offers an easy, convenient way to travel to these warm-weather destinations (during) the winter and spring seasons.”
This past season, Allegiant Airlines’ flights from St. Cloud recorded the most passengers since the 2018-2019 winter season and second-most passengers ever.
“We’re happy to continue our relationship with Allegiant,” said Bill Towle, director of the St. Cloud Regional Airport. “Allegiant has been a great partner offering a great service.”
Allegiant Airlines is known as an ultra-low-cost flight company that operates charter and regularly scheduled flights. Headquartered in Las Vegas, it’s considered a “major” air carrier and the 14th largest in North America. Allegiant has offered commercial air flights from the St. Cloud airport since 2012. For dates and fares, check www.AllegiantAir.com.
Airport background
In December 2021, the City of St. Cloud transferred ownership and operational control of the St. Cloud Regional Airport over to the St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority, which is a joint entity created by Stearns, Sherburne and Benton counties and the City of St. Cloud.
The St. Cloud Regional Airport provides commercial and general aviation connectivity to the National Airspace System. A 2019 Minnesota Department of Transportation study found the St. Cloud airport contributes $49.2 million annually to the state and local economy, supporting 395 on-site and off-site jobs. The airport also generates nearly $2 million in state and local taxes through its aviation-related activity.
