It has not been the easiest year to be a low-cost airline. In September, Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy for the second time in nine months, while Scandinavian carriers Play and Braathens shut down operations entirely and left thousands of travelers stranded across different airports in Europe.

Although not in bankruptcy, Houston-based low-cost carrier Avelo has spent the last year making significant cuts to its network by shutting down bases at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Charles M. Schulz Airport (STS) in California and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

A few weeks later, the carrier quietly cut routes to airports in Connecticut and Maine, and later confirmed more cuts to routes from North Carolina and Florida in 2026.

“Allegiant proved there was demand for other cities in that part of the country”

Another airline to make a series of significant route cuts is the Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air.

Launched in 1997 with the familiar low-cost model of flying from and into airports too small for mainstream airlines, Allegiant recently confirmed that it was leaving LAX and cutting its last flights into Los Angeles from Cincinnati and Bellingham over what it classified as “long-term strategic goals” and “flexible business value.”

This week, airport officials at Norfolk International Airport (ORF) in Virginia confirmed that routes Allegiant quietly scrapped in August represent a permanent exit from the market and will not return in the coming season.

Allegiant has been flying into the southeastern city since 2017 and offered travelers direct access to smaller Florida destinations such as Jacksonville.

Related: Major airline cancels dozens of flights ‘over clean seats,’ offers refunds

It has also offered seasonal flights to Boston and Cincinnati at different times of year; now these also will not return.

“ORF is thankful for the partnership with Allegiant,” airport spokesperson Chris Jones said in a statement to local outlet WAVY-TV.

“Before it arrived, Florida service was really limited to the big three destinations — Orlando, Miami, and Tampa. Allegiant proved there was demand for other cities in that part of the country, though a byproduct of its success was others trying to do the same.”

Allegiant Air flies to many secondary markets and states underserved by mainstream airlines.

Photo by Beckett P on Unsplash

With no more Allegiant flights out of Norfolk, here are other options

With carriers such as Breeze Airways and Spirit also expanding service to many of the same Florida destinations, it became difficult for Allegiant to keep routes with lower traffic profitable.

It continues to run flights into three other airports in Virginia: Richmond International (RIC) and Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional (ROA) in the south and Dulles International (IAD) in the northern Washington area.

More on travel:

  • United Airlines CEO gives stark warning on Olympic Games
  • Another regional airline cancels all flights, no refunds
  • US government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel
  • Another country just issued a new visa requirement for visitors

Low-cost airlines that will continue to fly into Norfolk include Frontier, Breeze, Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit, while anyone who booked flights beyond August should already have been contacted about refund options.

On it website, Allegiant states that travelers whose flights were “delayed or cancelled for a reason within Allegiant’s control” can request a “full refund, including any taxes and ancillary fees,” should they not want to be rebooked on an alternative route with Allegiant or a partner.

Related: Another airline files for bankruptcy, cancels all flights