Allegiant Air Looks to Basketball Tournament for Its Own Version of March Madness Success.

Business Editors and Sports/Travel Writers

FRESNO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2002

Airline's Charters Expected to Carry Men's and Women's Teams to

NCAA Tournament Venues

Coach Jerry Tarkanian's Fresno State Bulldogs may not get a bid to travel to the NCAA "March Madness" Basketball Tournament to crown this year's national champion, but Fresno-based Allegiant Air expects to end-up a big winner with its charter flights carrying men's and women's collegiate basketball teams to tournament venues around the country during the coming weeks.

Allegiant Air, which operates both scheduled and charter airline service, has made a business of carrying collegiate teams to athletic events wherever they compete in the US. But the airline's charter activities really take-off during the weeks of "March Madness" when it operates a number of flights for college basketball teams traveling to and from the tournament games.

"Last year we carried Gonzaga, Stanford, Old Dominion, Utah, Tulane, Maryland, St. Josephs, E. Illinois and Fresno State during the early rounds of the NCAA basketball tournaments," says Jim Schmidt, Director of Charter Operations for Allegiant Air. "We also took the University of Arizona men's team to the Final Four."

The airline's version of March Madness this year starts Sunday, March 10, when the NCAA announces the tournament teams and seatings. "Within a few hours after the invitations are sent out to the teams, we receive a schedule showing which teams need to fly where," says Schmidt. "We look at the teams, where they're starting from and where they need to fly, and match them with our aircraft and crews. That same night we submit our bids for the charters. There's a fair amount of excitement and anticipation--sort of like being `on the bubble'," says Schmidt, referring to teams waiting to hear if they will be invited to the tournament.

Allegiant Air is awarded its tournament bids by WORLDTEK TRAVEL in New Haven, CT, which exclusively handles travel for the NCAA tournament.

"There's a certain amount of handicapping that goes on because depending on who wins and who loses, there may be more flying for us," said Schmidt. "In some cases we won't know until a game is over which team we'll be flying and where we'll be taking them," said Schmidt.

Allegiant expects to begin flying its first charters related to the tournament on March 12 or 13, providing transportation to the first round "March Madness" men's contests. The last charter flights associated with "March Madness" will actually occur after the April 1 men's NCAA Championship Game in Atlanta.

According to the airline's Schmidt, "Here at Allegiant, we love `March Madness'. Even if we have our own team favorites, win or lose, we treat them all like champions."

"Allegiant is a nice airline, and they have always taken good care of us," says Fresno State Coach Jerry Tarkanian. "It would be great if we were flying them in March."

About the Company

Allegiant Air, founded in 1997, is certificated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as a "Scheduled Air Carrier" with authority to fly scheduled and charter airline operations throughout the US. The Company also has authority for charter service to Canada and Mexico. The airline's charter customers include the US Government, collegiate athletic teams, corporate customers, resort properties, private groups and individuals.

Allegiant Air's scheduled airline service includes daily non-stop flights between Fresno and Las Vegas and between Colorado Springs and Las Vegas. The airline operates a fleet of 83 passenger DC-9-21 and 130 passenger MD-87 aircraft on its scheduled and charter flights.

Headquartered in Fresno, California, the privately owned airline is under the majority control of Maurice J. Gallagher, an airline industry veteran, who acquired his interest in the company last year.

For reservations and flight information, call Allegiant Air at 454-7730 (Fresno Area) or 888-594-6937 (Toll Free outside Fresno area) or your travel agent. For Allegiant Vacations, call toll free 800-432-3810 or your travel agent.