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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Allegiant Travel Company Plans Knoxville, Tennessee, Operational Hub

06/25/2018
Allegiant Travel Company plans to establish a two-aircraft base at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee. As part of Allegiant's growth plans in Tennessee, the company plans to create up to 66 new, high-wage jobs in the area.

The Las Vegas-based company is investing more than $50 million to establish its new base of operations, which will house two Airbus aircraft. The company, which focuses on linking travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class leisure destinations, plans to begin its base operations at McGhee Tyson Airport in October 2018.

"Allegiant has already seen great success in the Knoxville/Great Smoky Mountains area, and establishing a permanent base affords the opportunity to embed even deeper into the community and contribute further to the local economy," said Keith Hansen, vice president of government affairs for Allegiant. "Having based aircraft and crews increases the efficiency of our operations and positions us for even more growth in the future, offering more access to and from the Great Smoky Mountains than ever before."

"Over the past decade, Allegiant Air has provided low-fare nonstop flights to popular destinations from McGhee Tyson Airport," said Eddie Mannis, Chairman of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. "They are continuing to support our region by selecting our airport as a base of operation, leading to more jobs and travel opportunities for the people of East Tennessee."

"It is through strong community partnerships and the attractiveness of our region's tourism market that our airport is able to recruit opportunities like the one announced today," said Mannis. "We appreciate the support of our region's economic development and tourism organizations."

The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority supports the project in partnership with the Competitive Airfare Partnership, the Blount Partnership, Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority, Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Council, Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, Sevier County Tourism Department, the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Department of Tourism.

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