Allegiant Air will cease its non-stop seasonal service from Casper to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport next week.

Officials with the Casper-Natrona County International Airport say the low-cost carrier, which began its service from Casper to Mesa, Ariz., last December, will fly the route for the last time on May 13.

Casper-Natrona County International Airport manager Glenn Januska says Allegiant is focusing on routes it thinks will yield better long-term profit margins.

“It is absolutely an economic decision – Allegiant is a profitable airline, and they do what they do well,” Januska said. “As much as we may not like it here locally, if they are looking at a market and it’s not generating the revenue and profitability they expect, they pull the service – that’s the reason why they’re profitable.”

Januska says Allegiant’s decision isn’t based solely on how full its airplanes are. He says Allegiant considers the health of several of its ancillary revenue streams before it makes the decision to pull the plug on a particular route.

“Allegiant doesn’t make its money on the price of its airline tickets, they make their money on other things,” Januska said. “People are flying to Mesa, but they’re not renting hotel rooms through Allegiant’s website – if they’re not (booking) golf packages, if they’re not (booking) rental cars, then Allegiant’s not getting the same revenue that it may through another market.”

Otherwise, Januska says Allegiant is very pleased with the performance of its non-stop service from Casper to Las Vegas. Januska says Allegiant will celebrate the fifth anniversary of its service from Casper to McCarran International Airport this summer.

Officials with Allegiant Air could not be reached for comment.

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