Allegiant to launch Charleston-Louisville flights

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The Lowcountry may see an influx of Louisville, Ky., residents this summer as a result of Allegiant Air’s new seasonal flight between Charleston International Airport and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Flights begin May 22 and will run twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. Allegiant will use an Airbus A319 with 156 seats for the route.

“We are thrilled Allegiant is creating this connection between the Derby City and the Holy City,” Helen Hill, chair of the Charleston County Aviation Authority board and CEO of Explore Charleston, said in a news release. “It’s a win for both Louisville- and Charleston-area residents who can now more affordably and easily travel between these iconic destinations.”

Allegiant began serving Charleston in 2018 with flights to Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Last year, the carrier launched seasonal service to Cleveland and Punta Gorda, Fla

The announcement of the Louisville flight to Charleston is part of Allegiant’s largest service expansion in company history. Allegiant added 44 new nonstop routes, including 14 routes to three new cities: Chicago, Boston and Houston.

Drew Wells, Allegiant’s vice president of planning and revenue, said the expansion is a reflection of the company’s mission to offer affordable travel options to those who otherwise may not be able to afford air travel.

“There is a lot of leisure demand for cities that are regional destinations, and this route expansion will address some of that need,” Wells said.

Last month, Southwest Airlines announced it is adding flights from Charleston to Atlanta and Kansas City, Mo., beginning June 7. After those flights begin, Charleston International Airport will have nonstop flights to 28 cities.