East Valley travelers have new options out of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Allegiant Air is banking on a growing number of passengers at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport to guarantee a $3 million loan for expansion of the terminal.

Allegiant Air, which operates a hub at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in east Mesa, reported another month of large traffic gains in August.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air, which began serving Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport less than a year ago, drastically increased its passenger counts, according to its latest report.

Allegiant Air said this week it will begin flying twice-weekly nonstop flights between Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Wichita, Kan., beginning Nov. 20.

At a time when most airlines are cutting back and struggling to eke out small profits at best, Allegiant Air expands and rakes in the cash.

Allegiant has added Duluth, Minn., to the growing number of cities it serves nonstop from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The airline will begin service Oct. 21 with a promotional fare starting around $90 for a one-way ticket.

Allegiant Air said Tuesday it will begin nonstop flights between Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 14.

Allegiant Air is adding four flights from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport beginning in March to serve the increasing number of passengers flying the Las Vegas-based airline.

Allegiant Air, which operates a hub at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, said Monday it has signed an agreement to purchase 18 MD-80-series aircraft from Scandinavian Airlines System.

East Valley air travelers, gun shy after buying tickets on a couple of startup carriers that quickly shut down earlier this year, shouldn’t worry about getting on board new Williams Gateway hub airline Allegiant Air, industry leaders said.

Allegiant Air announced this week it will offer new, nonstop service between Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and South Bend, Ind.

 Allegiant Air named three new destinations Thursday - two in Oregon and one in Missouri - from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport

Allegiant Airlines said Tuesday it will begin service to Idaho Falls, Idaho starting Nov. 12 from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The nonstop flights are scheduled for Monday and Friday, leaving Mesa at 9:20 a.m. and arriving in Idaho Falls at 11:20 a.m., and departing Idaho Falls at noon and arriving in Mesa at 2 p.m.

Allegiant Airlines announced today that it will begin a new service to Provo, Utah beginning Feb. 15, 2013.

Forbes magazine has included Allegiant Travel Company on its list of “America’s 100 Best Small Companies.” The list, which appeared in the Nov. 8 issue of Forbes, recognizes businesses with remarkable sales and earnings growth. The airline caters to tourists on nonstop getaways to Sunbelt locales such as Arizona, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Florida, and operates here out of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

An ongoing labor dispute between 600 flight attendants and Allegiant Airlines has the carrier preparing other employees to step up.

Allegiant Air is offering 99-cent seats to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.