Allegiant plans to invest roughly $77 million in an operational base hub at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan. The project is expected to create 88 new jobs.

According to state officials, in an effort to increase route expansion and network growth, the company will establish a new aircraft and crew base. The expansion will include housing three Airbus A320 aircraft at FNT, affording the opportunity for more nonstop flights to meet consumer demand. The airline, which serves more than 130 cities across the United States with nonstop flights, said it plans to begin base operations in mid-February 2022.

“Flint has been a great location for Allegiant, where our presence and success have grown each year,” said Keith Hansen, Allegiant’s vice president of government affairs. “It makes perfect sense to establish an aircraft and crew base in Flint, further embedding Allegiant in the community as a hometown airline.”

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.

“Allegiant Air’s decision to expand in Flint underscores the strength of our business environment, hospitality industry and talented workforce,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. “We thank Allegiant for expanding at Bishop International Airport and look forward to working with the company as it continues to grow and add jobs in Michigan.”

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. The project is supported by a $200,000 Jobs Ready Michigan performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

“We are pleased to have partnered with Bishop International Airport and the MEDC on working to land Allegiant Air,” said Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance. “This investment will not only make the Flint area more accessible to visitors, but it will also play a major role in priming the entire region for future long-term growth.”