Looking to travel? Here's where Memphis airport's seasonal flights can take you

Memphis International Airport's newest seasonal route took flight earlier this month, with at least one more set to launch this year.

Florida-based low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines started seasonal nonstop service between Memphis and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on July 11. The flight will operate three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and is scheduled to run through Nov. 5.

“Relentless pursuit of frequent and affordable air service is a continual goal at MEM,” said Michael Keeney, chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. “We are grateful to Spirit for adding another option to the Dallas area, which is one of our top markets in terms of demand.”

While officials work to bring more permanent flight options to the airport, seasonal routes offer airlines a chance to test out the demand for service.

The airport will welcome another seasonal flight this fall, when Southwest launches nonstop service between Memphis and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas starting Oct. 3. The flight is scheduled to go through March 5, 2025.

The Southwest flight will operate on a less-than-daily schedule, said Dan Landson, public relations advisor for Southwest Airlines.

Seasonal flights at Memphis airport

Spirit, Southwest and Allegiant all currently offer seasonal flights at Memphis International Airport. These are the seasonal flights each airline offers:

Spirit Airlines

• Memphis-Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Flight is scheduled to operate through Nov. 5.

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Southwest Airlines

• Memphis-Tampa International Airport (TPA). Flight operates March through June.
• Memphis-Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Flight runs from October to January.
• Memphis-Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (starting Oct. 3). Flight is scheduled to run through March 5, 2025.

Allegiant Airlines

• Memphis- St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). Flight is available through Aug. 11 and resumes Nov. 14.
• Memphis-Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS). Flight is available through Aug. 12.
• Memphis-Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Flight is available through Aug. 11.

How airlines determine seasonal routes

Glen Thomas is the Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority communications director. He said it’s common for airlines, especially the low-cost carriers, to test out demand for a route by offering seasonal services.

Hector Mejia, corporate communications specialist for Allegiant, said what makes the Las Vegas airline unique as a low-cost carrier is that it is 100% focused on leisure travel.

Mejia said Allegiant considers all its routes to be seasonal because its business model is built on demand and seasonality. Allegiant's structure is designed to be flexible so it can offer travelers low-cost airfare during vacation seasons.

He said the air carrier is dedicated to connecting small- to medium-sized cities like Memphis to premier vacation destinations with its network of affordable, all-nonstop routes. Allegiant currently serves six destinations from MEM: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Mejia noted Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Orlando are scheduled year-round, while St. Pete, Destin-Fort Walton Beach and Los Angeles are seasonal.

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“While we operate some routes year-round, our business model is built to maintain flexibility in scheduling," Mejia said. "We flex capacity and ramp up service when demand is at its highest, so it is not unusual for a route to go on a seasonal hiatus."

Landson noted Southwest’s network planning team is responsible for building a schedule that meets the need of the local traveler with what the airline refers to as permanent routes. For a market like Memphis, Landson said, this would include nonstop service to larger destinations within its route map, which would offer additional connectivity to get the Memphis-area traveler to the place they want to get to.

Last October, Southwest restarted its service between Memphis and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The seasonal flight runs from October to January with less than daily service, according to Landson.

“As we further build out the destination portfolio, the team looks at additional opportunities and the ability to fund those routes which is usually on a seasonal basis based on the trends for a particular market,” Landson said. “For example, fall, winter and spring are better seasons to travel to Phoenix, whereas spring is a popular time frame for Florida destinations. We’re always working with our airport counterparts to look at the data, and listening to our customers, and building schedules that serve the local traveler.”

Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Looking to travel? Here's where Memphis airport's seasonal flights can take you