Flights from Fresno to Portland for under $50? Airline offering new nonstop route

Allegiant Air on Tuesday announced a service expansion it calls one of the largest in company history.

The budget-friendly airline will add 44 new nonstop flights, increasing its options in 51 cities around the country. That includes Fresno, where it will run flights to Portland, Oregon, this summer.

“These additions reflect our ongoing commitment to meet customer demand,” Allegiant chief commercial officer Drew Wells said in news release. “By connecting more cities, we’re making it easier for travelers to visit family and friends, access top leisure destinations, and create new memories.”

The new nonstop flights to and from Portland International Airport will run Sundays and Thursday, from May 22 to mid-August. One-way tickets will start at $49, with some provisions.

The flight will add needed capacity during the summer travel period and give Fresnans access to Portland’s arts, culture and nightlife, said Henry Thompson, director of aviation at Fresno Yosemite International Airport.

For Portland area residents, its a chance to “experience our city and region’s abundance of summer outdoor adventures and family-friendly activities, and three nearby national parks,” he said.

Allegiant’s history in Fresno

Allegiant’s history in Fresno goes back to the founding of the company, when it operated a single DC-9 aircraft running charter flights to Tahoe and other locales.

In 1999, it took over WinWest’s scheduled passenger service to Las Vegas and continues those nonstop flights daily. By the end of that year, the company had expanded to three planes and was running service to Burbank and South Lake Tahoe.

This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 10:57 AM.