United Airlines is facing competition from another discount airline at its fortress hub at Newark Liberty International, a consequence of the federal government earlier this year lifting runway use restrictions that also limited competition at New Jersey’s only major airport.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air, with its “travel is our deal” slogan, will start flying a total of two flights a day in mid-November from Newark’s Terminal B with non-daily, nonstop service to Savannah, Ga.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Asheville, N.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio.
“We’re happy to give local travelers a new option when looking for air travel,” Jude Bricker, the airlines chief operating officer, said Tuesday in a statement announcing the flights, with one-way fares as low as $39.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had announced on April 1 that it would open the airport up this fall to more flights and more competition because the airport’s flight delays had declined. Around the same time, United dropped a plan to acquire 24 take-off and landing time-slots at Newark from Delta Air Lines, and the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its related antitrust lawsuit that aimed to block the slot deal.
“We compete vigorously with many airlines throughout our network, including at Newark Airport, and believe customers will continue to value our frequent flights to more than 150 destinations worldwide and our extensive support of organizations throughout the region,” United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said in an emailed statement when asked about Allegiant’s entry into Newark.
United flies daily from Newark to each of the cities to which Allegiant will fly. One of the destinations, Cincinnati, is also served from Newark by Delta.
“You may see United lower its rates on places where they compete,” said East Rutherford travel agent Rick Ardis.
It was unclear Tuesday if other discount carriers will begin new routes or expand their existing service this year at Newark, where United serves about seven of every 10 passengers and the average fares are among the nation’s highest. The FAA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are working together on airlines’ fall schedules at Newark, and in the spring the FAA invited potential new entrants to submit plans.
An FAA spokesman said Tuesday the agency would not comment on the status of the fall scheduling or on whether more competition would be coming. A spokeswoman for the Port Authority said no one was immediately available Tuesday afternoon to comment.
JetBlue Airways Corp. said in April it would take advantage of the newly relaxed flight restrictions at Newark and would shift six year-around Florida flights from LaGuardia to Newark this fall.
Elite Airways of Portland, Me., which flies between Newark and Vero Beach, Fla., using Terminal B, recently started offering seasonal summer service from Newark to the Bar Harbor area in Maine.
Allegiant has been flying out of another Port Authority-operated airstrip for more than two years — Stewart International Airport, near Newburgh, N.Y. which is about an hour’s drive from Bergen County.
Lou Heimbach, chairman of the Stewart Airport Commission, said Tuesday that Allegiant has been well received by residents of the Hudson Valley. Allegiant has been flying to Tampa from Stewart, and earlier this month it added seasonal service to Myrtle Beach.
The carrier has been filling seats, Heimbach said.
“The fares are low and they’ve had good load factors. I think people are satisfied with them,” he said.
Similar to Spirit Airlines, Allegiant is known for low fares as well as add-on fees.
Allegiant is also known for infrequent flights, often offering only two or three a week on a given route, instead of daily service, which means if you miss your flight you will wait not hours but days for the next one.
“I would recommend buying travel insurance with trip interruption coverage if you are flying Allegiant,” said Ardis.
Such coverage generally allows you to book a flight on a different carrier and be reimbursed for the cost, he said.
NorthJersey.com
United Airlines gets new competitor at Newark Liberty Intl
