Peoria Station

Allegiant Air is asking the public to guess their next destination city to win a trip for two to that city. At the link provided, a list of twelve cities is provided, which besides the “new sunny destination” description gives a clue to the actual destination. All are located west of the Mississippi River, ensuring that it is a western city.

Speculation in the airline enthusiast community has narrowed it down to San Bernardino, California, whose San Bernardino International Airport is the former Norton Air Force Base. San Bernardino is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA, which is located east of Los Angeles. A pair of hangars built in 1944 have been converted into a passenger terminal. The airport’s 10,000-ft. runway can handle 747’s.

Why San Bernardino? If this “Inland Empire” city is in fact Allegiant Air’s new destination, then it is obvious the airline is looking to tap into the Southern California tourist market, but at the same time avoid congested LAX, slot-restricted Long Beach and other high-cost airfields located amid the Los Angeles Basin’s notoriously crowded freeways.

The new destination is to be announced on February 18. Peoria is not among the twelve cities which will see service to the new destination, but it could eventually if initial services prove successful, and the airline decides on further expansion.

UPDATE (Feb. 6): The Sioux Falls Argus Leader quotes that city’s airport director as saying Allegiant Air’s next destination city will in the Los Angeles area. So San Bernardino looks likely at this time.

(The photo above is real…the flight from St. Petersburg/Clearwater arrived early, and forced the Las Vegas departure to wait. Taken Saturday morning, July 21, 2007 just before the air show)

- David P. Jordan