Allegiant to serve Hawaii with 757s

Allegiant Travel Company has signed a forward purchase agreement to acquire six 757-200s - with the sole purpose of serving Hawaii.

Flights will be operated by its low-fare airline subsidiary Allegiant Air - and the aircraft will complement its current fleet of MD-80s.

Allegiant plans to take its first two aircraft for service in the fourth quarter of 2010. The remaining aircraft will be phased into operation until the first half of 2012.

Allegiant's CEO and chairman, Maurice Gallagher said: "Hawaii is the most prominent US leisure destination currently unserved by Allegiant and our small city customers have been requesting this service."

Allegiant's President and CFO, Andrew Levy added: "The 757 is a new aircraft type for Allegiant but we otherwise see this programme as consistent with our existing business model. This transaction will enable Allegiant to extend to Hawaii its strategy of serving large leisure destinations from smaller cities with no existing nonstop service."