Click to tweet: .@Allegiant participates in Wings for Autism event at @fllyavlnow with @TheArcofNC http://gofly.us/Afoyy
ASHEVILLE, NC. Feb. 13, 2016 — Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) today will host the Wings for Autism event at Asheville Regional Airport (AVL). The event is held by The Arc of Buncombe County, an organization that advocates for and serves those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event allows children with autism to practice the routine of boarding an airplane without the stress of traveling anywhere. Allegiant provides a plane to board, as well as a volunteer crew of pilots and flight attendants.
“Allegiant is very proud to be a part of Wings for Autism in Asheville,” said Brian Davis, Allegiant vice president of marketing. “We know it will be a great experience for the families participating and for our Allegiant team, and we’re grateful to the employees who generously donated their time to help make this event a success.”
125 participants, including children with autism and their family members will arrive at AVL, receive boarding passes, go through security and board the Allegiant plane from the gate. Once on the plane, flight attendants will go through standard safety procedure, but the flight will not actually leave the ground. After the mock flight, the families will be invited back to the gate for a reception.
“We are excited to be expanding the Wings for Autism program to Asheville. For parents of children with autism spectrum disorders, everyday tasks can sometimes prove to be far more difficult for their child. Air travel can prove particularly challenging between clearing security, the overwhelming noises and harsh lights,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc. “This program will not only alleviate the stress children and their parents may feel, but help educate airport and airline professionals about how best to serve children with autism or other intellectual and developmental disabilities in the future.”
Allegiant previously participated in Wings for Autism at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown, Pennsylvania on May 9, 2015.
MEDIA RSVP REQUIRED: The event will take place pre- and post-security at the airport. All media will require escort for entry into the secure area. Please RSVP by Friday, February 12. Media representatives will need to bring a government-issued ID (driver’s license) in order to receive a visitor’s badge. Media should arrive no later than 10:15 am, and come to the event check-in table in the main lobby for instructions. For questions, call Tina Kinsey, AVL Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at 828-654-3238 or email tkinsey@flyavl.com.
Allegiant, Travel is our deal.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations. The company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, while also offering other travel-related products such as hotel rooms, rental cars, and attraction tickets. All can be purchased through the company website, Allegiant.com. The company has been named one of America’s 100 Best Small Companies by Forbes Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2014, AVIATION WEEK ranked Allegiant the Top-Performing Airline in North America for the third consecutive year. For downloadable press kit, including photos, visit: http://gofly.us/VB3OR
Allegiant Media Contact
Phone: 702-800-2020
Email: mediarelations@allegiantair.com