Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) \u2014 As families prepare for winter break next week, a new destination is now available for customers flying in and out of the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.<\/p>\n
Allegiant Airlines’ inaugural flight from Rochester to Fort Lauderdale took off Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
For Bill and Judy Sadwick, it’s a welcome change.<\/p>\n
“We used to live down there for 23 years, then we moved to New York to be with our kids, and we kinda miss it,” said Judy Sadwick of Horseheads, New York.<\/p>\n
And, with many students on winter break next week, it’s perfect timing for Mitch and his family.<\/p>\n
“We would drive to Buffalo and usually have connectors and, you know, you spend like half a day traveling. This is just, I mean, they didn’t have to miss school today,” Mitch said.<\/p>\n
The addition comes after Spirit Airlines dropped its route to Fort Lauderdale early last year.<\/p>\n
“It was disappointing when we lost our direct flight to Fort Lauderdale, and Allegiant stepped right up and took over that route,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.<\/p>\n
And amid record-breaking numbers at Rochester\u2019s airport.<\/p>\n
“So about 2.8 million passengers came and went through the airport in 2025, and that is up 4 % from 2024,” said Andy Moore, airport director. “We haven’t seen those kinds of numbers in about 15 years.”<\/p>\n
Moore says the growth will continue through March, when the airport will see a 10 % increase in available seats.<\/p>\n
“The more passengers we get coming through Rochester and not choosing other airports, the airlines will recognize that, and then they’ll want to add more service to this airport, which is great for our entire community,” Moore said.<\/p>\n
And for families in need of an easier option to head south for the winter.<\/p>\n
“We will go more frequently now. So, it was maybe once a year, maybe we would miss a year, but now it’ll be multiple times a year,” Mitch said. “We’re just really happy to visit our family and friends more frequently.”<\/p>\n
In addition to Fort Lauderdale, Allegiant Airlines is also offering a direct flight to Sarasota.<\/p>\n