Allegiant Travel to eliminate most Hawaii flights

Allegiant Travel Co. will eliminate most of its Hawaii flights in mid-August in what a company spokeswoman calls a “seasonal adjustment.”

Allegiant’s schedule now includes 10 routes between the Western continental states and Hawaii. The reduction will take that down to three routes: Las Vegas and Bellingham, Wash., to Honolulu and Bellingham to Maui.

Allegiant began flying to Hawaii in 2012 to broaden revenue; it was the first time Allegiant had flown over an ocean. Instead of using its mainstay MD-80 series planes, Allegiant bought six used Boeing 757s for the Hawaii flights, because of their greater range and seating capacity.

Spokeswoman Jessica Wheeler said the Hawaii cutback reflects the company’s operating philosophy of matching its schedule to demand. She said the discontinued cities could be brought back late in the year, but there were no firm plans.

The Transport Workers Union, which has made little progress in its effort to negotiate an initial contract for Allegiant flight attendants, linked the cutbacks to “repeated (mechanical) problems” with the 757s.

Contact reporter Tim O’Reiley at toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.