RAPID CITY - It's possible that Allegiant Air will add a Rapid City-Phoenix route to its schedule after all.
Although no one will confirm it, airport officials announced they will hold a press conference Monday for what they describe as "an important announcement regarding air travel and Black Hills tourism."
Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said she could neither confirm nor deny whether Rapid City was among the markets getting the new Phoenix route.
However, she did confirm that the airline has worked out an acceptable agreement for fuel loading fees at Rapid City Regional Airport. Earlier, Allegiant had said those fees were a roadblock to adding new service to Rapid City.
The Black Hills Air Service Task Force and Rapid City Regional Airport will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Monday.
The task force and the airport have been working to expand airline service to Rapid City. They recently scored a coup when low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines announced it was adding Rapid City to its route system beginning Oct. 5.
That announcement had an immediate impact on airfares in Rapid City. United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines all dropped their prices to match Frontier in the markets where they compete.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant is a specialized carrier that offers low-cost, nonstop flights and travel packages from 50 markets to tourist destinations Las Vegas, Orlando and Tampa.
The company began service between Rapid City and Las Vegas in July 2005. The airline flies here twice a week - more often during certain times, such as the National Finals Rodeo.
Last month, Allegiant announced plans to add two new destinations, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to its network. The company will offer the Phoenix route to 13 markets and the Fort Lauderdale route to a dozen markets. Service to Phoenix is expected to start as early as October.
At the time of its announcement, Allegiant said Rapid City would be a good candidate for the Phoenix route but that the city would not likely be chosen. The airline complained that Westjet Air Center, the company that refuels jets here, was charging higher refueling fees than the other airports it serves.
Westjet insisted at the time that its rates are comparable or lower than national averages. On Friday, Linda Rydstrom, co-owner of Westjet Air Center, declined comment. But Squyres said a deal has been worked out; she didn't release details.
"We've come to mutually acceptable terms, and we're very appreciative of Mason Short (airport executive director) and Westjet in working with us to come to acceptable terms," she said.
If Allegiant does launch service between Rapid City and Phoenix, planes in Phoenix would likely land at Williams Gateway Airport rather than the busy Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Williams Gateway, a former U.S. Air Force base, lies between Gilbert and Mesa in the southeast corner of the Phoenix metropolitan area. It's about 25 miles from Sky Harbor.
As of Friday, Rockford, Ill., was the only announced market for Allegiant's new air routes. Service from Chicago Rockford International Airport to Phoenix-Mesa will begin in November, and service to Fort Lauderdale will begin in December.
Contact Dan Daly at 394-8421 or dan.daly@rapidcityjournal.com
