Allegiant dropping Savannah for 'lack of demand'

Allegiant Air is pulling of Savannah, ending flights to the Georgia city less than a year after it added service there. 'Unfortunately, due to lack of market demand, we will end our service between Savannah and Fort Lauderdale, and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers," Allegiant president Andrew Levy tells the Savannah Morning News. "Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport has been a great partner for Allegiant and we thank its staff for their support and professionalism." Allegiant, which currently flies two flights a week between Savannah and Fort Lauderdale, will end its service on July 24, The Associated Press reports. The carrier launched the service in November 2010. Savannah Morning News columnist Adam Van Brimmer notes Allegiant's decision to depart Savannah-Hilton Head International is a blow for the airport, adding that its "run as one of the few top-100 airports in the nation without a [major] low-cost carrier is going on three years now." AirTran was the last big low-cost carrier to fly to Savannah, but it ended service there in October 2008. ARCHIVES:  AirTran pullout will leave Savannah without a low-cost carrier (Aug. 21, 2008) Continuing with his local perspective, Van Brimmer says Allegiant's pull-out "leaves Vision Airlines, with its Savannah-to-Destin, Fla., flights, as the airport's only low-cost carrier. No offense to Vision or the Florida Panhandle, but that service does most Savannahians as much good as fleece in August."