Allegiant celebrates 1st flight from CAE to Orlando, flights to Fort Lauderdale coming soon

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Thursday’s trip to Orlando marks the inaugural flight for Allegiant from Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

A flight that was years in the making, says CAE’s Vice President of Marketing Kim Crafton.

“I’ve heard this community say two things repeatedly. They wanted low cost service and they really wanted allegiant to operate out of this airport. Hear me when I say the entire CAE team is so very proud that we can check off both of those things today,” says Crafton.

Allegiant will not only be offering nonstop service to Orlando. Nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale are also set to begin on May 22nd.

“It’s amazing to be here you know, I can feel the energy in the building. I’ve been here a couple of times to visit with airport representatives and I’m super excited to get this off the ground and excited today is finally here,” says Allegiant’s Airport Affairs Manager, Nate Troyer.

ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with some of the passengers on board for the inaugural flight to Orlando, including Wil and Sarah Riggins and their two-year-old son, Jack.

And today brings even more firsts for Jack — marking his first time on a plane and his first trip to a very happy place.

“We’re heading to Disney World for a couple of days, found out on the way up here we’re gonna be on the inaugural flight down here, so we’re really excited and ready to get this guy down to Disney World for the first time,” says Wil.

Other passengers say they are just as excited about the flight’s convenience and affordability.

“Absolutely, because Allegiant is a low cost airline that we can afford… to be normal working individuals… to travel back and forth to do what we need to do to have fun and get out on vacation and travel — so this is a very affordable opportunity for us to be able to come and do this,” says Donell Allen, adding, “I have gone to Greenville and flown Allegiant the past two years out of Greenville and made that trip, so I am super excited I get to leave out of Columbia South Carolina — my home town and travel to Florida directly. Super excited today!”

“It’s wonderful….I agree,” says Cindy Elkins.

“And it saves a six hour drive!” says Abner Jackson, Jr.

Allegiant is expected to offer one-way flights three times a week. One-way flights to Orlando start at $38 and one-way flights to Fort Lauderdale start at $40.