Nonstop service to take flight at airport in region

SARASOTA — Following the news of a new airline last week, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport officials have announced the arrival of a new nonstop route. 

Allegiant’s new route from Akron, Ohio, will begin March 3, 2022, at the airport, under the call letters SRQ. 

“Sarasota continues to prove itself as a destination that provides warm getaways where vacationers can enjoy a variety of outdoor leisure activities,” says Drew Wells, Allegiant’s senior VP of revenue and network planning, in a statement. "The addition of this route will give our customers new, affordable options for visiting Florida.”

The nonstop route from Akron-Canton Airport will operate two days a week. The company also announced nonstop routes from Akron to Punta Gorda Airport in Charlotte County and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, which are set to begin in early March as well. 

Last week, the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport revealed Avelo Airlines as its 11th service provider. That service, set to begin January 13, 2022, will take passengers to New Haven, Connecticut, and will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

In the first nine months of 2021, SRQ has had over 2.2 million passengers pass through and is projected to hit a total of 3.2 million passengers this year by the end of December. The first three months of 2022 have already seen a 52% increase in seats over what the airport saw this year.