Summer travel plans? Some flights reduced, eliminated at Bellingham’s airport
Travelers flying in and out of Bellingham International Airport (BLI) may notice changes to certain Allegiant Air flights.
The Allegiant nonstop flight from BLI to Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in southern California is now operating seasonally. The flight operates Thursday and Sunday, and is typically full. As of June 24, flights could not be scheduled on this route beyond August 16.
BLI Director of Aviation Matt Rodriguez confirmed the change in service, but said it is unrelated to how the flights have performed among travelers.
“It was a corporate decision made at Allegiant’s headquarters, not a reflection of local demand. The Greater Los Angeles Area continues to be one of BLI’s strongest markets, which is why we ask the community to continue to support BLI and why we are aggressively pitching these routes to other low-cost and legacy carriers,” Rodriguez said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
Allegiant is also no longer offering its direct service to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). That change is related to a decline in passenger volume on the route, “largely tied to political tensions between the U.S. and Canada,” according to Rodriguez.
“Our Canadian travelers have decreased significantly, and that has a real impact on routes like these. We continue to recognize that fostering a healthy relationship with all BLI travelers is essential to the success of the airport and our community,” Rodriguez said.
The changes are a result of the carrier’s decision to end base operations at BLI, according to Allegiant Media Relations representative Sam Callinan.
“The airport will continue to be a station for us which means our flights will operate on turns only. That said, we’re still bringing travelers from BLI to favorite vacation destinations like LAS and the Phoenix area and are constantly evaluating what routes are in demand and how we can best serve our passengers at BLI,” Callinan told The Herald.
An airline crew base is a location where pilots and flight attendants are permanently assigned, and where their work rotations begin and end. The new “turn-based” model means crews and aircraft will operate routes from other bases without overnight stays in Bellingham.
The choice to end base operations in Bellingham, which will go into effect in November, “reflects broader economic and industry factors affecting airlines nationwide, including fluctuating fuel costs, shifts in passenger demand, and regional cost pressures,” according to the Port of Bellingham.
Callinan told The Herald that Allegiant caters to “leisure-focused passengers,” meaning its operations can shift to match seasonal demand in vacation destinations.
“Route optimization is a normal part of our business, allowing us to focus our resources on markets where we see the strongest customer demand while maintaining the flexibility that has been a hallmark of Allegiant’s model. We routinely evaluate demand, operational requirements, and market conditions to determine where we can best serve our customers. As a result, routes may be added, paused, resumed, or discontinued over time,” Callinan said.
