Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce Michigan Strategic Fund support for Allegiant's forthcoming operational base at Flint Bishop International Airport.
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Allegiant, which serves more than 130 cities across the United States with nonstop flights, plans to begin base operations in Flint in mid February 2022, generating nearly $77 million in private investment and creating 88 new high wage jobs in Flint. Michigan was chosen for the project over a number of competing sites across the country.
The project is supported by a $200,000 Jobs Ready Michigan performance based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Allegiant is one of America's premier ultra low cost air carriers, offering nonstop air service to travelers from underserved small and medium sized communities to world class destinations. Allegiant currently serves more than 130 cities across the U.S. and employs 75 people in Michigan.
Allegiant began operating at Bishop International Airport in 2016 and currently offers eight nonstop routes with new flights to Phoenix/Mesa starting in November 2021. In 2019, Allegiant carried nearly 197,000 passengers through Flint.
In an effort to increase route expansion and network growth, Allegiant plans to establish a new aircraft and crew base at Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint. The project will include housing three Airbus A320 aircraft at FNT, affording the opportunity for more nonstop flights to meet consumer demand.
The project will foster high wage job growth in the regional impact industry of logistics. The jobs created cover all aspects of the airline's locally based operations, including general and operational managers, pilots, flight attendants, aircraft maintenance technicians, engineers and station staff
The Bishop International Airport Authority is supporting the project with facility improvements, discounted rent, and incentives for each new nonstop flight, for a total value of $1.9 million.
Allegiant, which employs more than 4,200 team members across the U.S., has already begun hiring personnel to support the operations. ■
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