Allegiant Air is one of the most Googled airlines when it comes to safety questions — and the concern is not unfounded. Allegiant’s incident rate has historically been higher than that of major US carriers, it flies older aircraft than most competitors, and a 2015 Tampa Bay Times investigation documented a troubling pattern of mechanical problems and aborted takeoffs. The FAA responded with increased inspections.
But the bigger picture matters too: Allegiant Air has never had a fatal passenger accident. Tens of millions of passengers have flown on Allegiant since it was founded in 1997. Here is the honest analysis — including what has changed, what the current risk picture looks like, and how Allegiant compares to Spirit, Frontier, and the major carriers.
Allegiant Air Safety Record: The Key Facts
| Safety Factor | Allegiant Air Status |
| Passenger fatalities | Zero — no passenger deaths in Allegiant history |
| Hull losses (aircraft write-offs) | None involving passenger fatalities |
| Incident rate | Historically higher than Southwest, Delta, and United |
| Aircraft fleet | Retired MD-80s; now exclusively Airbus A319/A320 family |
| FAA scrutiny | Increased inspections ordered 2015 following Tampa Bay Times investigation |
| IOSA certification | Allegiant holds IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification |
| DOT complaint rate | Higher than industry average on several metrics |
| Founded | 1997 (originally as WestJet Holdings) |
| JACDEC ranking | Not consistently in top-rated carrier lists |
The 2015 Tampa Bay Times Investigation: What It Found
The most significant scrutiny of Allegiant’s safety came from a 2015 Tampa Bay Times investigation that documented 100 serious incidents over a five-year period — including aborted takeoffs, emergency landings, smoke in cabins, hydraulic failures, and engine shutdowns. The investigation found that Allegiant experienced these serious incidents at a rate 11 times higher than Southwest Airlines on a per-flight basis.
The FAA responded by ordering increased ramp inspections of Allegiant aircraft. Allegiant disputed the methodology of the investigation and argued that its incident reporting was more thorough than competitors — meaning its raw incident numbers partly reflected better reporting rather than worse maintenance.
The investigation identified three contributing factors at the time: the aging MD-80 fleet (which had higher mechanical failure rates than modern aircraft), deferred maintenance decisions that allowed aircraft to fly with known minor issues, and a high aircraft utilization rate that left less time for thorough maintenance between flights. Each of these factors was specific to the MD-80 era — Allegiant has since addressed all three.
Allegiant Air Aborted Takeoffs: Why They Happen and What They Mean
An aborted takeoff (or rejected takeoff, RTO) occurs when the flight crew discontinues a takeoff roll after detecting a problem. They are a standard and expected safety procedure — not an indication of an exceptionally dangerous airline. All commercial airlines train extensively for RTOs, and executing one correctly is a sign of proper safety culture.
Allegiant’s historically higher aborted takeoff rate was one of the findings of the 2015 investigation. The contributing factors identified at the time included: mechanical issues with the aging MD-80 fleet, deferred maintenance decisions, and aircraft operating with known issues that were deemed acceptable for flight. The MD-80 retirement eliminated the fleet that was generating the highest incident rates.
What an aborted takeoff actually means from a safety perspective: the crew detected a problem before the aircraft left the ground and took the correct action. The alternative — continuing the takeoff with a known problem — would be far more dangerous. A high RTO rate is concerning if it suggests underlying mechanical problems, but the RTO itself is a safety success, not a failure.
Allegiant’s Current Fleet: Airbus A319 and A320
Allegiant completed the retirement of its MD-80 fleet and now operates exclusively Airbus A319 and A320 family aircraft. This is the same family of aircraft flown by American Airlines, United, and Delta on domestic routes. The transition addressed the primary source of the maintenance concerns documented in 2015.
| Aircraft | Seats | Notes |
| Airbus A319 | 156 | Widely used by major US carriers; reliable narrowbody |
| Airbus A320 | 177 | Most common narrow-body aircraft globally; proven safety record |
| Airbus A320neo | 177-186 | Newer, more fuel-efficient variant; CFM LEAP or P&W GTF engines |
The Airbus A320 family has an exceptional safety record across all operators globally. With over 15,000 aircraft in service and tens of billions of flight hours logged, the A320 family is one of the most thoroughly tested and safest aircraft designs in commercial aviation history. Flying Allegiant on an A320 means flying on the same airframe type as passengers on American, United, Delta, and virtually every major European carrier.
Allegiant’s A320 fleet is newer than some critics assume — the airline began transitioning to Airbus in 2013 and has been operating a modernizing fleet since. Average age of Allegiant’s A320 fleet as of 2026 is approximately 10-12 years — comparable to many major carrier narrowbody fleets.
How Does Allegiant’s Safety Record Compare to Other Airlines?
Comparative safety data across US low-cost carriers:
| Airline | Passenger Fatalities | Notes |
| Allegiant Air | 0 | Founded 1997; no fatal accidents |
| Spirit Airlines | 0 | Founded 1983 (as Charter One); no fatal accidents |
| Frontier Airlines | 0 | Founded 1994; no fatal accidents |
| Southwest Airlines | 1 | 2018 engine failure; shrapnel caused one fatality |
| American Airlines | Multiple over decades | Major carrier; incidents over long operational history |
| United Airlines | Multiple over decades | Major carrier; incidents over long operational history |
This comparison is not meant to suggest Allegiant is safer than Southwest or the major carriers — operational scale, route complexity, and weather exposure differ enormously. The point is that Allegiant’s safety record, measured by the metric that matters most (passenger fatalities), is zero. By this measure it matches or exceeds every other US airline.
Allegiant Air Emergency Landings: Context and Frequency
An emergency landing does not mean an aircraft was in serious danger of crashing. Most declared emergencies are precautionary — declared to ensure priority landing clearance, medical assistance on the ground, or fire response standby. Declaring an emergency is a professional best-practice decision, not evidence of catastrophic failure.
Allegiant’s higher number of emergency landing declarations relative to fleet size was another finding of the 2015 investigation. Post-MD-80 fleet retirement, Allegiant’s emergency landing and diversion rate has normalized closer to industry averages. No emergency landing involving Allegiant has resulted in passenger fatalities.
What Are Passengers Actually Complaining About?
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) publishes monthly airline complaint statistics. Allegiant’s DOT complaint rate is higher than the industry average on several metrics:
- Flight delays and cancellations — Allegiant’s on-time performance is below the industry average; the airline’s lean schedule has less buffer to absorb delays
- Baggage handling — complaints about lost or delayed bags are above average
- Customer service — limited phone support and fees for almost every service generate complaints
- Reservation/booking issues — Allegiant’s website and booking system generate above-average complaints
Critically: these are operational and service complaints, not safety complaints. A delayed flight, a lost bag, or a difficult rebooking experience is frustrating — but it is not a safety issue. The DOT complaint data does not indicate Allegiant is unsafe; it indicates Allegiant delivers a bare-bones product and that passengers sometimes find this unsatisfying.
Is Allegiant Safe for Families With Children?
Yes. Safety standards on Allegiant are identical to those required of all FAA-certified Part 121 carriers. Children fly on Allegiant at the same level of structural safety as on any other US commercial airline. The differences families notice are operational: Allegiant charges for seat selection (pay extra to guarantee sitting together), has no seat-back entertainment, offers no complimentary snacks or drinks, and has limited gate areas at smaller airports.
For families on a tight budget flying to a Florida or Las Vegas destination, Allegiant often provides the cheapest available nonstop option. The safety level is equivalent to a major carrier; the service level is not.
Allegiant Air and Bad Weather: How It Handles Disruptions
Allegiant’s flight disruption rate in bad weather is higher than major carriers for a structural reason: it operates a point-to-point network with no hubs and very limited spare aircraft. When a weather event delays or grounds aircraft, Allegiant has fewer options to reroute passengers or substitute aircraft compared to American or Delta, which have hub operations and large spare fleets.
This means Allegiant cancellations during weather events can cascade more severely. If your flight is canceled, rebooking options are limited to the next available Allegiant flight on that route — which may be days away given the airline’s typically infrequent scheduling (2-3 flights per week on many routes, not daily). Factor this into your decision if your travel dates are inflexible.
Is Allegiant Safe to Fly in 2026?
The honest answer: Allegiant is meaningfully safer than it was in 2015, and poses no unusual risk relative to other US low-cost carriers. The factors that drove the 2015 investigation — the aging MD-80 fleet and associated maintenance patterns — have been eliminated. The current Airbus fleet is modern, standardized, and the same airframe type flown by major carriers.
Allegiant will never be Southwest or Delta in terms of operational consistency — it runs a genuinely lean operation with very low fares, minimal amenities, and routes primarily to leisure destinations. But ‘lower cost’ does not automatically mean ‘less safe’ in aviation regulation terms. The FAA certifies all US commercial operators to the same minimum safety standards.
If you are choosing between Allegiant and a major carrier on the same route, the safety difference is not a compelling reason to pay significantly more. The more relevant considerations are Allegiant’s on-time performance (below industry average), customer service quality (frequently rated low), lack of the operational buffers that major carriers use to recover from delays, and the strict bag fee structure that can significantly increase the total cost of the trip.
Looking for Allegiant Air routes, destinations, and booking tips? See our complete guide to Allegiant Air routes — where they fly, new 2026 routes, and cheapest fares.
Considering Allegiant for your career? See our guide to Allegiant Air careers and flight attendant jobs — including how to apply and what the hiring process looks like.
The FAA’s official safety data and Allegiant’s current operating certificates are available at FAA.gov — airline safety data.
Bottom Line
| Passenger fatalities | Zero — no fatal passenger accident in Allegiant history |
| 2015 investigation | Found incident rate 11x higher than Southwest; FAA ordered increased inspections |
| Root cause (2015) | Aging MD-80 fleet — now fully retired |
| Current fleet | Airbus A319/A320 — same as American, United, Delta on domestic routes |
| Is it safe in 2026? | Yes — no unusual risk vs other US low-cost carriers; same FAA standards |
| Main real drawbacks | Below-average on-time performance; poor rebooking options; limited service |
| DOT complaints | Above average — but for service issues, not safety |
| IOSA certified | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Allegiant Air ever had a fatal crash?
No. Allegiant Air has no passenger fatalities in its history since it was founded in 1997. Despite a documented period of higher-than-average mechanical incidents (particularly between 2010-2015 with its older MD-80 fleet), Allegiant has never had a fatal accident involving its passengers.
Why does Allegiant Air have so many problems?
The primary source of Allegiant’s documented incident problems was its aging MD-80 fleet, which the airline operated until 2018. A 2015 Tampa Bay Times investigation found the carrier’s incident rate was significantly higher than competitors. Since retiring the MD-80s and transitioning to modern Airbus A319/A320 aircraft, Allegiant’s safety profile has improved materially. Current complaints about Allegiant tend to be service-related (delays, baggage, customer service) rather than safety-related.
Is Allegiant Air FAA approved?
Yes. All US commercial airlines, including Allegiant, must hold FAA Part 121 operating certificates and meet the same federal aviation safety standards as major carriers. The FAA increased its inspection frequency of Allegiant aircraft following the 2015 investigation. Allegiant also holds IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification.
How does Allegiant compare to Spirit Airlines for safety?
Both Allegiant and Spirit are ultra-low-cost carriers with no passenger fatalities in their histories. Both now operate modern Airbus A320 family aircraft. Neither is considered meaningfully riskier than the other based on current available data. The main differences between them are operational: routes served, fee structures, and schedule frequency.
Is Allegiant Air safe for families?
Yes — Allegiant meets identical FAA safety requirements as all other US commercial carriers. Children fly at the same structural safety level as on any other airline. The differences are service-related: Allegiant charges for seat selection (families should pay to guarantee sitting together), has no complimentary food or entertainment, and operates out of smaller, less-staffed terminals. Budget for bags, seats, and limited service when calculating the real cost.