Airport Sees Growth Despite Recent Allegiant Air Flight Cuts

DULUTH - If you're looking to fly from Duluth to sunny Orlando Florida, you'll have to plan on flying out of the Twin Cities. Allegiant Air has announced it's cutting round trip flights from Duluth to Orlando. This comes after the airline recently axed the flight from Duluth to Phoenix.The Orlando flight returned to the Duluth Airport in 2012 taking multiple trips from February to August.It was winter 2013 when the airline cut the amount of flights to just 60 days a year.The airport sees anywhere from 700 to 1,000 people a day. Airport officials say while losing a flight is always disappointing, they're on track for a record breaking year for number of passangers.When getting ready to hop on a plane you'll see your occasional couple flying out for a weekend adventure. In the same trip, you'll probably see people dressed in a suit traveling with a small suitcase. “There's no question that we rely on our larger businesses throughout the region to kind of anchor if you will our passenger base,” explained Duluth International Airport executive director, Tom Werner. He says it's the corporate companies like maurices, Enbridge, Amsoil and many more that have clients jumping on planes every day. “Having the Duluth airport be the premier gateway to their clients and their customers is just a huge advantage to them,” Werner said. Airport officials say the multiple Delta and United Airline flights heading to Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago is what makes them successful. Over the years area hotels have seen the boom in business travelers. "Convenience-wise it's very easy to get in and out of there,” said general manager of Duluth’s Holiday Inn and Suites, Gerry Goldfarb. Hotels work hand and hand with the airport making sure the business traveler's trip is an easy one. “There's many businesses downtown that bring a lot of people in the town and instead of driving up 35 - it’s come in from the airport and shuttles go and pick them up,” Goldfarb said. Now, there are two less flights leaving the Duluth terminal, and only one Allegiant flight left. “We're hopeful that Vegas will stay very very strong,” Werner said referring to Allegiant’s only remaining flight. To make the trip more attractive the airport has been running special deals to attract locals. Airport officials say they're still working hard to serve the needs of travelers choosing Duluth. “We're going to continue to put our best foot forward in support of economic development and making sure that this region is represented properly,” Werner said. The airport says losing two flights with the same airline is a bump in the road, but it's a business decision. Airport officials explained Allegiant Air has to do what it needs to do to make money and the trips from Orlando and Phoenix weren’t making enough to make the trips worth it.Werner said the airport will lose about $85,000 a year because of the flight loss. Officials assure Fox 21 this is not Allegiant's way of easing their way out of Duluth. They're looking to add new flights as soon as next season.