Punta Gorda Airport adds 20th nonstop destination

PUNTA GORDA — Discount airline Allegiant plans to offer nonstop flights from Punta Gorda Airport to MacArthur Airport in Long Island, N.Y., in December, the 20th nonstop destination from the Southwest Florida airport.

“We are confident the community will appreciate the convenience of flying nonstop to Punta Gorda and the value of bundling their air, hotel and car reservations together,” says Allegiant President Andrew C. Levy, in a statement.

The Punta Gorda Airport is about halfway between Fort Myers and Sarasota. Although Allegiant is the only passenger airline serving the airport, it provides an alternative to busier airports.

In July, Allegiant announced it would start flying from Punta Gorda to another eight cities, such as Allentown, Pa., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Youngstown, Ohio. Allegiant also announced plans to base two additional aircraft and crew in Punta Gorda as a result of the expansion.

“Expanding our base at Punta Gorda Airport will allow us to give more of our markets access to the Southwest Florida coast and offer travelers more affordable vacation options,” Levy says in a statement.