Allegiant Air Boeing 757-200 (N902NV) while in Las Vegas. Yes, this livery looks even better in person -- one of the best on a 757 in my opinion.
Allegiant Air has gained approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to start operating the Boeing 757-200. Today the 757 (N902NV) will start service between McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE) and Las Vegas (LAS). You might have to be a true airline nerd to appreciate an airline starting to use a new aircraft type. I have enjoyed following Allegiant Air’s acquisition of Boeing 757s, see the re-painting, to seeing one in the buff getting its interior installed at Paine Field.
Currently, Allegiant flies a fleet of 51 MD-80 aircraft and this is the first time they have added another aircraft type. The airline owns a total of three Boeing 757s, but two of them are being leased with other airlines until mid-2012. Allegiant also plans to purchase two additional Boeing 757s that will enter service during the first quarter of 2012.
’œThis is an important day for Allegiant,’ Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant Travel Company President, said. ’œThe addition of the Boeing 757-200 will play an important role in our company’s future growth. Our operations team worked long and hard to ensure the completion of this certification and we thank them for their dedication in achieving this important goal.’
Allegiant was hoping to start flying to Hawaii, but the FAA required them to get experience operating the Boeing 757 over land before earning Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards 180 (ETOPS), which is required to fly to Hawaii.
It is unlikely that the Boeing 757, configured with 217 economy seats, will remain on the MFE to LAS route, since the airline is hoping to initiate service to Hawaii, Mexico and Canada via Las Vegas and Orlando. The city and airport are pretty excited about the Boeing 757 that they made a video highlighting the new aircraft coming to the airport on YouTube.
Image: gTarted
Video found via Airliners.net
McAllen-Miller is MFE not MVE. Don’t know if you saw my tweet about it.
http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KMFE
Thanks Tony — I have fixed it.
David
have noticed their 757’s flying into LGW and MAN, (UK) with jet2 .. have they used this toward their certification using their flight deck crew? Amazing livery BTW!
Those B757s are leased to Jet2holidays and are not being flown by Allegiant, so it is not counting towards ETOPS.
It is just allowing them to make some additional money from their 757s.
David
I’ll have to check their terms and conditions to make sure there is not a $5.00 fee for flying in an aircraft with the number 5 in the model number. 🙂
David: Allegient flies Airbus A319/320s in addition to MD 80s. They have a total of 10 in their fleet. Paul