Airport adds nonstop trips to Orlando, Fla.

Todd Parnell, vice chair of the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport Board, and City Councilman Ralph Manley donned mouse ears and sang the tune from the Mickey Mouse Club after announcing Orlando as a new nonstop destination from Springfield.

Beginning Oct. 5, Allegiant Air LLC will offer Wednesday and Saturday nonstop service to Orlando Sanford International Airport. Flights will depart Springfield at 10:15 a.m. and arrive in Orlando at 1:40 p.m.

“Orlando is one of the most desired locations for Springfield citizens to visit, and this will increase that travel,” Parnell said.

“Our incredible growth is fueling the increase in the number of passenger flights to our airport – and fueling the need for a new airport.”

Sherry Wallace, spokeswoman for the airport, said passenger numbers are up 24 percent over this time last year, and officials are trying to keep up with the growth.

“At the rate we’re going, we could be close to 900,000 passengers this year, and we had 722,000 last year,” she said. “It’s amazing and scary.”

Springfield added direct flights to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City earlier this year.

The airport also provides nonstop service to eight other destinations: Chicago; Cincinnati; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Denver; Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; Minneapolis; and St. Louis.

Allegiant is a leisure destination airline specializing in flights to Orlando and Las Vegas. A $59 one-way fare is available for some Orlando flights out of Springfield if tickets are purchased by Aug. 24.