Key Takeaways
• Allegiant Air adds record-tying 44 new nonstop routes across 51 U.S. cities for 2025, increasing affordable travel options.
• Columbia Metropolitan Airport joins Allegiant’s network, offering new nonstop flights to Florida and expanding access for local travelers.
• Myrtle Beach International and Sarasota Bradenton airports gain new Allegiant routes, boosting tourism, jobs, and easier travel for immigrants and families.
Allegiant Air is making major changes to its network in 2025, with one of its biggest expansions ever. The airline is adding many new routes, including several from Florida destinations and cities across the United States. These new routes focus on making travel easier for people wanting to visit sunny spots, especially during the busiest times like holidays, school breaks, and weekends.
The expansion will affect a wide range of travelers, including families looking for affordable vacations, people visiting relatives, and those heading to famous golf courses and beaches. The key airports involved in these changes are Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport, and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, among others.
Let’s explore what these changes mean for travelers, communities, and businesses in detail, using simple words and straightforward explanations.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) Joins the Allegiant Network
Columbia Metropolitan Airport, also called CAE, located in South Carolina, is now being added to the Allegiant Air network as part of the 2025 expansion. Before this, the main airlines flying from Columbia were American, Delta, and United. Allegiant’s move brings a new option for people living in or near Columbia.
Allegiant Air is well-known for providing ultra-low-cost, nonstop flights, mainly to fun places where people want to go for holidays or leisure reasons. While the exact Florida cities that will be connected to Columbia by Allegiant Air have not been clearly listed in the available information, the expansion itself is being called “record-tying.” This means it’s just as big as the biggest expansion Allegiant has ever done, which included 44 new nonstop routes to 51 cities across the country.
For travelers in the Columbia area, this change should make it easier to get to popular spots in Florida without having to change planes or travel far to a bigger airport. For those interested, the latest details about Allegiant’s new routes can be found on their official new routes page.
For immigrants or people visiting the United States 🇺🇸 who arrive through Columbia, more options mean shorter layovers and less cost when traveling to Florida or linking up with American family and friends. This could even benefit temporary workers who visit relatives or need to move quickly for job opportunities.
Big Changes at Myrtle Beach International Airport
Myrtle Beach is already a well-known holiday destination, famous for its beaches and nearly 90 golf courses. Myrtle Beach International Airport is seeing a large boost in flights, with Allegiant Air announcing three new nonstop routes starting in May 2025. Here’s what’s being added:
- Plattsburgh, NY (PBG): Service starts May 15, 2025. Flights will run two times a week.
- Grand Rapids, MI (GRR): Service starts May 22, 2025. Also runs two times a week.
- Niagara Falls/Buffalo, NY (IAG): Service starts May 22, 2025, with twice-weekly flights.
These new flights mean that by 2025, Allegiant Air will link Myrtle Beach to 20 different cities, making it one of the main carriers for people coming to or leaving Myrtle Beach. This is especially good news for golfers from Michigan, upstate New York, and Canada 🇨🇦’s nearby regions. They will find it much easier to get to Myrtle Beach for vacation or tournaments. For many, it removes the need for multiple flights or long drives.
For the local hospitality and tourism industries, having more visitors brought in with Allegiant Air’s help can mean more jobs and growth for small and large businesses alike. This, in turn, can attract more people hoping to work seasonally or permanently in the area—many of whom might come from outside the United States 🇺🇸. For those who rely on Myrtle Beach International Airport for visits home or for family members coming to join them, the new flights add valuable choices.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that such expansions are not only about business growth for airlines. When a place like Myrtle Beach gets new connections, it becomes a stronger hub for both domestic and international travelers, possibly leading to more job openings in sectors like tourism, customer service, and airport operations.
New Florida Routes: Making the Sunshine State Even More Accessible
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) Sees Busy Growth
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) in Florida is experiencing a wave of new service from Allegiant Air. In February 2025, the airline launched seven new nonstop routes, with more on the way. Some of the new destinations connected to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport include:
- Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina: Service began February 13, 2025 (twice a week)
- Moline, Illinois (MLI): Began February 13 (twice a week)
- Albany, New York: Began February 14 (twice a week)
- Elmira, New York: Began February 14 (twice a week)
- Omaha, Nebraska: Began February 14 (twice a week)
- Roanoke, Virginia: Began February 14 (twice a week)
- Lexington, Kentucky (LEX): Starting April 3, 2025
Because of all these new routes, Allegiant now flies to 35 cities nonstop from SRQ. This helps bring the total number of nonstop flights by all airlines at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport up to 68. For travelers who do not want to deal with plane changes or connecting flights, this makes flying in and out of Sarasota much simpler.
People from smaller cities in the United States 🇺🇸 can now reach Florida’s beaches faster and with less hassle. Tourists will have more flexibility, and local business owners can plan for more guests during peak travel seasons. These changes also make it easier for immigrants and their families to visit different places in the United States 🇺🇸, or for students to travel home during school breaks.
More Flights to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
While details are limited for now, Allegiant Air is also starting new routes to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, another key airport in Florida. This airport serves as a gateway to much of southern Florida, including cities like Miami.
When these new routes begin, people from more American cities, and possibly even from other countries, will be able to travel to South Florida for vacations, business, or family visits. For international travelers arriving through Fort Lauderdale, having more direct flights can mean a smoother journey, especially when dealing with children or elderly family members.
Why Allegiant Air’s Expansion Matters
Allegiant Air’s current network changes do more than just add convenience. They also speak to major shifts in how airlines, cities, and airports think about travel. The airline has always focused on serving “underserved markets”—places that larger airlines sometimes overlook because they do not have huge business or first-class markets. Instead, Allegiant cares about families, groups of retirees, young couples, and anyone looking for an affordable way to reach places like Myrtle Beach, Columbia, or Sarasota.
- Affordable travel for working families: Many people living near Columbia Metropolitan Airport or Myrtle Beach International Airport may not have the time or money to travel through bigger airports that are much farther away. Low-cost, nonstop flights allow them to visit loved ones or take family trips for less money.
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Direct flights for immigrants and visitors: Immigrants and people with temporary visas often need to travel quickly—for visits home, job opportunities, or emergencies. More nonstop flights mean less time spent waiting in airports and fewer missed connections.
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Tourism and new job possibilities: When a city like Myrtle Beach or Sarasota gains more flights, local businesses feel the positive effects. More visitors mean more jobs in hotels, restaurants, and shops. This can provide chances for new immigrants or international students to find work or internships.
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Easier movement for students and workers: Students who come to the United States 🇺🇸 for college, or workers on special visas who need to travel between home and their new city, will have a better time finding easy routes, saving both time and trouble.
These benefits can give families more flexibility, make travel less stressful, and help travelers reach their destinations faster. For some, extra flights mean the chance to see family more often or to travel for important life events.
The Broader Impact: Immigration, Community Growth, and Business
Whenever an airline opens more nonstop routes, there are effects beyond simple convenience. In areas like Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Sarasota, easier travel encourages more people to visit, move, or even invest in businesses. Over time, this flow can help a community grow in different ways:
- Local businesses, like hotels and restaurants, may need to hire more workers. This gives newcomers—including recent immigrants—more options to find work.
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When people can fly in and out more easily, family members from other countries might visit more often. This can help families stay closer despite living far apart.
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Airports that handle international and domestic travelers well often attract new companies that rely on global movement. This can mean more jobs and better services in the area.
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Students, researchers, and artists who move for short-term programs or special projects will find it easier to reach their destinations and return home after their stays.
The easiest way to think about the impact is this: airports that offer many nonstop routes help make it possible for people, ideas, goods, and opportunities to move freely. When an airline like Allegiant Air invests in new routes at places like Columbia Metropolitan Airport or Myrtle Beach International Airport, it makes the city a stronger place—not just for tourists, but for everyone who needs to travel for life’s big and small moments.
Looking Forward: Travel Trends and Next Steps
The big leap in service from Allegiant Air highlights a trend that is likely to continue: airlines providing more nonstop service to cities that are growing or attracting new types of visitors. This is good news for people planning to travel for leisure, work, or family reasons in 2025 and beyond.
Anyone interested in using these new options can look at Allegiant’s official network updates page for the latest updates. Travelers should also pay close attention to seasonal schedules, as Allegiant Air often tailors flights to the busiest times of year—making it easy to book last-minute trips for holidays, school breaks, or special occasions.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the most important thing for anyone planning to travel—whether from Myrtle Beach, Columbia Metropolitan Airport, or a major Florida city—is to look out for new nonstop routes that could make the journey quicker and cheaper. Checking official airline announcements or schedules is the best way to make sure you get the most current and accurate information.
In summary, the latest Allegiant Air expansion is all about giving travelers—whether families, business people, international students, or immigrants—more ways to get where they want to go. With new service at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, extra choices at Myrtle Beach, and lots of new Florida destinations, the future of air travel in these areas looks brighter, busier, and filled with new chance for everyone.
Learn Today
Nonstop route → A flight that travels directly from the origin to destination without stopovers or changing planes.
Underserved markets → City or region with few direct flight options, often overlooked by major airlines for limited business travelers.
Layover → A stop between flights requiring passengers to wait or change planes before reaching their final destination.
Seasonal schedules → Flight timetables that change based on holidays, school breaks, or high-demand travel periods throughout the year.
Ultra-low-cost → Airlines offering significantly lower base fares, typically with fewer included services and optional paid add-ons.
This Article in a Nutshell
Allegiant Air’s record-setting 2025 expansion introduces 44 new nonstop routes, benefiting travelers from Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Sarasota Bradenton. This growth means easier, more affordable trips for families, workers, and immigrants, plus economic boosts for local communities. Watch for seasonal schedules and check Allegiant’s official pages for the latest route updates.
— By VisaVerge.com
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