GARY — Allegiant Airlines’ Gary to Sanford, Fla., passenger flights have been successful, so far, a Gary/Chicago International Airport official said Tuesday.
Interim airport director Steve Landry told the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority that Allegiant has sold about 8,600 seats since it began offering service to Sanford on Feb. 15.
The airport gets credit for half those seats in its quest to reach the 10,000-seat mark by years’ end to receive a $1 million payment from the Federal Aviation Administration, he said.
Landry said 94 percent of the available seats were filled for March flights and 97 percent were filled for April flights.
“We’re really committed to moving forward with Allegiant and other airlines,” said RDA member Jeff Good. “From our perspective, this is only the beginning.”
RDA attorney David Hollenbeck said he flew to Florida Thursday on Allegiant. “It was an incredibly positive experience. Everyone was cooperative and friendly and the plane was full.”
Allegiant’s MD-80 planes can carry up to 150 passengers.
Allegiant Air, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., offers nonstop passenger flights two days a week — Thursdays and Sundays — from Gary to Orlando Sanford International Airport near Orlando.