Allegiant airline shows passenger increase in January

Allegiant Travel Co. continued its patterns in recent months of expanding its flight schedule faster than it attracts passengers.

During January, the 528,000 people that boarded Las Vegas-based Allegiant planes marked a 5.2 percent increase from one year ago. This included both scheduled and charter flights, although charters account for less than five percent of Allegiant’s flying.

The number of miles the seats traveled with paying passengers in them rose 12.1 percent to 618 million. Still, the occupancy rate, called load factor in the airline industry, dropped 2.2 points to 84.9 percent due to more seats flying longer distances.

During the first quarter, Allegiant projects that the number of scheduled flights will be about flat, but the number of miles the seats travel will rise 15 percent to 19 percent. The growth rate will pick up in the second quarter.

The total revenue generated from each seat mile will drop about 3 percent during January, according to the company’s estimates.

Contact reporter Tim O’Reiley at toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.