Allegiant adds new Portsmouth-to-Florida destination as it competes with Breeze at Pease

PORTSMOUTH — Allegiant Air announced Tuesday it is adding a new route in November from the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease to Sarasota, Florida.

Allegiant's news comes less than a week after fellow low-cost carrier Breeze Airways announced it would start offering flights from Portsmouth to two popular Florida destinations in October.

Breeze will be flying from Portsmouth for the first time, giving the local airport a second airline. Allegiant's announcement of a new destination from Portsmouth seems to indicate the competition with Breeze is intensifying at Pease.

Allegiant for years had been the lone commercial airline flying to and out of Pease until Breeze last week announced it would be flying to both Fort Myers and Orlando, markets where Allegiant also flies from Portsmouth.

Allegiant’s flights to Sarasota, Florida via Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will begin on Nov. 23, according to a press release from the company. One-way fares will start as low as $69, the company added.

Allegiant’s current Portsmouth routes

Allegiant currently flies to three other Florida destinations from Portsmouth: Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB).

For a limited time, Allegiant is offering discounted one-way fares on those existing routes for as low as $69, company officials said.

“We are really excited Allegiant is adding a new, non-stop flight to Sarasota, Florida from New Hampshire’s Seacoast. As partners, we work hard to identify low-cost options into desirable destinations and now our community has an affordable and convenient way to visit Longbow Key and Siesta Key,” said Paul Brean, the executive director of the Pease Development Authority, in a prepared statement. “Historically, the Sarasota area has been popular with New Englanders, and now Portsmouth International Airport at Pease offers the perfect way to get there.”

Allegiant announced this week the addition of eight new non-stop routes across the country, including from Portsmouth to Sarasota, Florida.

"The addition of new routes is a testament to the success of our existing service in these communities," said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s chief revenue officer. “Our network planning team is responsive to consumer demand, constantly looking for opportunities to enhance the leisure travel experience. The new service kicks off just in time to plan warm winter getaways to sought-after coastal destinations.”

Breeze at Pease

Lukas Johnson, the chief commercial officer at Breeze Airways, said last week the company is “tremendously excited” to be adding routes in and out of Portsmouth for the first time.

Breeze will fly to Orlando on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Portsmouth, beginning on Oct. 9, according to company officials.

The airline will fly to Fort Myers on Thursdays and Sundays, beginning Oct. 10, company officials said.

Breeze describes itself as the “premium leisure low-cost carrier,” which focuses on affordable flights but also a variety of available upgrades.

“Portsmouth marks the second New Hampshire city Breeze will offer service from, in addition to our existing Manchester service, and we know the community will enjoy these new routes to Fort Myers and Orlando,” Breeze Airways CEO David Neeleman said in a prepared statement last week. “We have seen great demand for our routes in the region, and we see opportunities for continued growth from both (Manchester and Portsmouth) in the future.”

Brean believes the Portsmouth market is “absolutely strong enough” for both Breeze and Allegiant to succeed.

The Portsmouth airport at Pease offers Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine residents a cheaper and much less stressful alternative to flying out of Logan Airport in Boston, Brean said.