Several airlines offer direct flights to and from Myrtle Beach.
Low-cost carrier Allegiant Air is beginning nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach from Huntington, W.Va., and Allentown, Pa., marking its first entry into the Myrtle Beach market.
Flights to both destinations will depart and arrive on Thursdays and Sundays. Reservations can be made at www.allegiantair.com, or by calling 702-505-8888.
Travelers between Myrtle Beach and Chicago have an easier way to get back and forth starting today with the launch of a daily, nonstop flight on Spirit Airlines.
Grand Strand tourism leaders herald the new flight to Chicago O'Hare International Airport as an opportunity to lure more visitors to the beach, especially golfers from the Chicago area.
Nonstop daily service to the Windy City has been off and on since 2001. United Airlines used to fly the route, but ditched it in 2006, though it kept nonstop weekend service intermittently through September. Spirit Airlines ran nonstop service between Myrtle Beach and Chicago in 2001 and 2002 but ended the service when demand fell after Sept. 11, 2001.
Spirit officials say Myrtle Beach's affordability makes it a likely candidate to do well as travelers search for bargains.
These airlines offer direct flights to and from Myrtle Beach:
- Allegiant Air: Huntington, W.Va., and Allentown, Pa.
- ASA (Delta Connection): Atlanta
- ComAir: (Delta Connection): LaGuardia, Boston
- Continental: Newark
- Direct Air: Niagara Falls and Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers, Fla.; Allentown, Pa.; Columbus, Ohio; Kalamazoo, Mich.; Newark, N.J.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Rockford, Ill.; Sanford, Fla.; Toledo, Ohio; Worcester, Mass.
- Delta/Northwest: Detroit, Minneapolis
- Spirit: Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago O'Hare, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, LaGuardia
- United Express: Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- US Airways: Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington National, LaGuardia, Boston
