Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air kicked off its new service to Mesa, Ariz., today with a surprise — in two months, it will double the number of flights it has to that airport.
The company began operating flights today on its fleet of twin-engine MD-80 jets between McCarran International Airport and Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, the former site of Williams Air Force Base. On Jan. 11, it will bump its schedule from six weekly flights to 12.
Allegiant previously had said it wouldn’t connect its resort city pairs, primarily because it meant competing indirectly with established carriers Southwest and US Airways.
Allegiant also announced new service between Mesa and Oakland, Calif., another new city on the airline’s route map.