JetBlue Airways may use Allegiant Air’s slot after it discontinues Long Beach flights

JetBlue Airways is likely to use Allegiant Air’s slot that will fall vacant after the latter discontinues its flights out of the Long Beach Airport. Allegiant Air will discontinue flights out of Long Beach city from November 3, 2011 after offering 18 months of service.

Mario Rodriguez, Director of Long Beach Airport, said that other airlines are already being reached out and the vacant slots left by Allegiant Air would be filled immediately. He said that currently there is more demand than space. The slots are being considered as a valued commodity by almost all the airlines approached so far and all of them want it as soon as they can.

Flights to Long Beach are being currently operated by JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, US Airways and Delta Air Lines. Rodriguez said that Allegiant Air’s vacant slots are likely to be used by either of the four airlines, or Long Beach Airport may see the launch of a new airline.

Rodriguez said that the decision of Allegiant Air to discontinue flight services out of Long Beach Airport is not known, but it is understood that the tough competition being faced by JetBlue Airways might have forced Allegiant Air to take this decision.

Earlier, Frontier Airlines also discontinued its flights out of Long Beach Airport in April this year. Allegiant Air as well as Frontier Airlines began serving Long Beach in the spring of 2010.

Rodriguez said that all the airlines that have been approached to fill Allegiant Air’s slots are yet to give their approval.