Allegiant Air is cutting several routes from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Cascade Township, eliminating direct flights to Los Angeles, Savannah, and Destin-Fort Walton Beach starting this month.

The changes affect travelers in Cascade and across Kent County who rely on the discount carrier for low-fare leisure travel to popular vacation destinations.

What Routes Are Being Cut

According to an analysis of Official Airline Guide data by aviation publication Simple Flying, Allegiant removed 61 routes nationwide when comparing July 2025 to July 2026 schedules. The airline added 49 new routes during the same period, resulting in a net reduction of 12 route pairs.

The routes eliminated from Ford Airport include:

• Grand Rapids to Los Angeles International Airport
• Grand Rapids to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
• Grand Rapids to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport

Flights to Savannah ended after May 10, according to schedule data. The Los Angeles route is also gone. Allegiant's website indicates that service to Destin-Fort Walton Beach will resume in October.

Why Allegiant Is Cutting Flights

Allegiant attributed the cuts to rising fuel costs and shifting market conditions.

"We regularly adjust capacity based on seasonal demand for vacation travel, market conditions, and operational needs," Allegiant told News 8 in a statement.

The airline models fuel costs at $4.35 per gallon and expects its second-quarter capacity to drop roughly 6.5%, according to TS2.tech reporting on the company's investor guidance. CEO Gregory Anderson said leisure demand "remains healthy," but higher fuel costs drove the company to cut off-peak flying and trim average trip distance.

The Los Angeles exit is particularly costly for Allegiant. The airline told aviation analyst Brett Snyder that LAX station costs climbed to about $50 per departing passenger, higher than the average fare the airline could charge at the airport. Snyder called the number "remarkably high" and "completely unsustainable" for a short-haul low-cost carrier.

What the Airport Authority Says

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority acknowledged the service adjustments in a statement provided to WOODTV.

"We are aware of Allegiant's planned service adjustments and understand they are not unique to West Michigan, but part of broader effort the airline is taking to respond to current market conditions," the Airport Authority said. "Airlines routinely evaluate their routes to align capacity with demand and ensure long-term sustainability. While adjustments can be disappointing, we remain focused on maintaining strong air service for our community."

What Travelers Can Do Instead

Allegiant noted that it recently launched new nonstop routes from Ford Airport to Philadelphia International Airport and John Wayne Airport in California's Orange County.

"While we no longer have service between GRR and LAX, we recently launched service to nearby SNA (John Wayne Airport), which serves the same customers," Allegiant said in its statement.

As of Tuesday morning, Allegiant's website listed flights between Ford Airport and John Wayne Airport through early August. No flights later in the year were available.

Ford Airport continues to serve over four million passengers annually with nonstop flights from American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Frontier, and Allegiant, according to River Grand Rapids.

The route cuts are part of a broader industry trend. Spirit Airlines ceased service on May 2, and Southwest Airlines pulled out of Chicago O'Hare and Dulles International Airport as of June 4, according to The Detroit News.

Allegiant said it plans to add eight new nonstop routes this fall, with most flights going in and out of Florida airports including Fort Lauderdale, St. Pete-Clearwater, Orlando Sanford, and Punta Gorda.

Chief Commercial Officer Drew Wells said the flights are going "where it is needed most," according to the Allegiant Newsroom.