VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
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In business tourism technology allegiant's streak of profitable quarters reaches 41 with $31.9 million earnings switch cleared to be first data storage center for casinos By Richard N. Velotta senior staff writer new routes Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel, parent company of Allegiant Air, reported its 41st consecutive profitable quarter, posting double-digit percentage increases in revenue, earnings and earnings per share. Allegiant, the fifth-busiest air carrier at McCarran International Airport, reported earnings of $31.9 million, $1.65 a share, on revenue of $273 million for the quarter that ended March 31. That compared with earnings of $21.7 million, $1.12 per share, on revenue of $237.9 million in the comparable quarter a year ago, which had one more day because of Leap Year. "The month of March is typically our busiest month of the year and this year was no different," Allegiant CEO Maurice Gallagher said in a release issued. During the quarter, Allegiant completed the conversion of its fleet of MD-80 twin-engine jets with 16 additional seats and in March began flying two recently acquired Airbus A319 jets. The company also added eight routes in the quarter and began flying to Reno and Provo, Utah. In the current quarter, Allegiant plans to add five routes and will begin flying to Little Rock, Ark. The This year, Allegiant began flying to Reno and Provo, Utah. This quarter, the airline will add routes to Little Rock, Ark., as well. airline operated 198 routes at the beginning of the first quarter of the year and will grow to 203 by the end of the second quarter. Known for its aggressive development of additional revenue through customer fees, Allegiant reported ancillary revenue of $87.5 million, a 36.2 percent increase over the first quarter of 2012. Allegiant plans to add seven more of the 156-seat A319s and nine 177-seat Airbus A320 jets by 2015. The Airbus jets are more fuel-efficient than the airline's MD-80s jets, driving down operational costs while increasing the number of seats. Even though Allegiant's first-quarter load factor — the percentage of seats filled with paying customers — was down 1.3 percentage points and the company had about 10 percent more employees than it had a year ago, the company generated more revenue with more passengers, higher fares and greater ancillary revenue generated. Allegiant also is removing some of its Hawaii flights during the fall off-season and will redeploy its efficient Boeing 757 jets on other domestic routes. By Cy Ryan staff writer CARSON CITY — The state Gaming Control Board approved the first center in Nevada for casinos to safely store their technology and other data. Switch Communications Group gained registration last month as a "hosting center" in Clark County. Board Chairman A.G. Burnett said agents inspected the site and determined it meets the standards set out by law. The Legislature allowed the board to register hosting centers and persons associated with them. The facility will keep the information and computer systems of casinos secure from such things as earthquakes and break-ins. It has militarytrained, 24-hour armed security. Switch Communications was co-founded by Rob Roy, chairman of the privately held technology company. It has several data centers in the Las Vegas Valley "In keeping with our long history of being the gold standard in gaming regulation, I am pleased to approve Switch's application as the first hosting center in Nevada," Burnett said. CATCH THIS GREAT COMBO OFFER FOR $159 Tuesday, June 18 – Sunday, June 23 Hear Frank Abagnale on May 30, the man behind the story, before seeing the Broadway musical, "Catch Me If you Can." Purchase a box tier seat for the musical and a B-level ticket for Frank Abagnale together for $159. FRANK ABAGNALE: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN The notorious imposter who inspired the award-winning movie and musical tells his story. "Abagnale's lecture may be the best one-man show you will ever see." - Tom Hanks THURSDAY, MAY 30 AT 7:30PM | TICKETS STARTING AT $24 For tickets, please visit TheSmithCenter.com or call 702.749.2000 TTY: 800.326.6868 or dial 711 | For group inquiries call 702.749.2348 361 Symphony Park Avenue | Las Vegas, NV 89106 | 1 3 M AY 2 0 1 3 20130513_VI15_F.indd 15 | 15 5/9/13 2:28:28 PM