Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced that airline provider Allegiant Travel Company received approval for state funding to establish a base and expand its presence at the Lehigh Valley Airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
The initiative will create 50 new, full-time jobs.
“This project is good news for Allegiant and the Lehigh Valley Airport, good news for travelers, and good news for the Lehigh Valley,” Gov. Wolf said. “It will provide the community with more jobs and more travel options while injecting more revenue into the local economy, and the sky’s the limit on new opportunities for the area.”
The funding is provided under the Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC) program. The $50,000 in JCTC credits will enable Allegiant to base two Airbus A320 airplanes at the Lehigh Valley Airport. Allegiant will hire pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics as well as purchase ground support equipment. The company will hire 50 additional employees to staff the base and new routes.
“Lehigh Valley is a perfect location for a permanent base, which will further establish Allegiant as a hometown airline in eastern Pennsylvania,” Keith Hansen, vice president of government affairs for Allegiant, said. “It has been a great area for Allegiant, where passenger demand has grown steadily over the years. As a base airport, having locally-based aircraft and crews will give us a host of options for both new service and expanded operational hours. This will mean more opportunities for affordable, convenient travel for local residents, and visitors to the area.”