Allegiant Adds Popular Florida Route to Its Pittsburgh Network

As U.S. airlines scramble to add flights following Spirit Airlines’ shutdown earlier this month, one of Pittsburgh’s busiest ultra-low-cost carriers is entering a top Florida market formerly served by the now defunct airline.

On Tuesday, Allegiant Air announced it will begin nonstop flights between Pittsburgh International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) starting Oct. 2. Flights will operate year-round, three times a week, on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Flights between Pittsburgh and Fort Lauderdale are now for sale at AllegiantAir.com. Through May 19, Allegiant is offering special introductory fares to Fort Lauderdale starting at $59 for travel booked between Oct. 2 and Oct 16.

Pittsburgh-Fort Lauderdale is part of an 8-route expansion by Allegiant to expand the carrier’s growing presence in leisure destinations across Florida.

“We’re excited to announce these new routes and believe it is an important time for Allegiant to increase travel options in these markets,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Our mission is to offer service where it is needed most, and these additions ensure that affordable fares can remain available to consumers despite industry changes.”

Allegiant joins existing daily nonstop service offered by JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines on the route. Fort Lauderdale is a former Spirit market the carrier served from PIT until its shutdown on May 2, and Allegiant’s entry will help meet the demand to one of PIT’s most popular Florida markets for travelers.

Allegiant adding Fort Lauderdale from Pittsburgh not long after Spirit’s shutdown serves as the latest example of PIT’s deliberate air service diversification strategy in action, minimizing the impact of Spirit’s closure on the region’s travelers. Air service diversification ensures that Pittsburgh is not dependent on a single carrier, providing stability for the airport and region.

Allegiant is the latest carrier adding capacity on former Spirit routes, including from PIT. The airport saw JetBlue re-enter the Fort Lauderdale market with daily flights in November 2025 and will see Southwest increase service to Orlando from four daily flights to six this summer and Breeze Airways begin nonstop service to Myrtle Beach beginning July 3.

PIT is still monitoring how other airlines respond to Spirit’s situation while continually partnering with all airlines to ensure its air service portfolio is maximized for the region.

Allegiant serves 14 nonstop destinations from Pittsburgh, the third most of any airline at the airport, behind Breeze and Southwest, and Fort Lauderdale becomes the airline’s 10th market to Florida, the largest network to the Sunshine State of any carrier at PIT. The Fort Lauderdale service will complement Allegiant’s existing three times weekly flights to West Palm Beach in South Florida, also operated year-round.

PIT’s new service comes after Allegiant formally closed on its $1.5 billion merger agreement with Sun Country Airlines May 13 following key regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Allegiant and Sun Country will continue to operate separately short-term with no changes to flight schedules, reservation systems or operations, and customers can continue to book flights separately on the airlines’ respective websites. The companies will work with the FAA to obtain a single operating certificate necessary to begin consolidating the two airlines.

Announced in January 2026, the eventual combined carrier will retain the Allegiant brand and is expected to serve more than 22 million customers annually with nearly 200 aircraft across more than 650 domestic and international routes, maintaining a continued focus on underserved markets across the U.S. and expanding opportunities into international locations. Allegiant will also inherit Sun Country’s multi-year agreement with Amazon Air and charter business with casinos, sports teams and the U.S. military.

The merger is not expected to have a significant effect on each carrier’s operations at PIT in the near future as both airlines share no overlap with their respective networks at the airport.

Sun Country is scheduled to resume its seasonal, nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Minneapolis/St. Paul on May 28 with flights operating on Sundays and Thursdays through Aug. 16.