Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – An ongoing debate for local travelers is which airport serves them better: Mobile Regional Airport or Pensacola International Airport? A recent look at data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics may help answer this question for many.

With Allegiant Airlines set to begin operations in Gulf Shores, the spotlight is on air travel options along Alabama's coast. While the new terminal and service are still under development, flyers must decide between Mobile and Pensacola for their travel needs meanwhile. The U.S. Department of Transportation's rankings offer insights that could help make that decision clearer.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, provides a full survey of "Average Domestic Airline Itinerary Fares" which ranks the airports currently operating with airlines in the United States. In the last audited year;

• Pensacola Ranked 88th in the nation
• Mobile Ranked 347th in the nation
  

Travelers must also consider ground transportation and travel time to their lodging when considering the choice of airports.

The City of Gulf Shores and Allegiant Airlines announced it will begin offering the first-ever commercial air service from Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF). The airline will launch six new nonstop routes from Gulf Shores International Airport starting in May 2025, connecting the beach community to major cities across the country.

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The commercial aviation industry drives 5% of U.S. GDP. Every day, U.S. airlines operate more than 26,000 flights carrying 2.6 million passengers to/from nearly 80 countries and 61,000 tons of cargo to/from more than 220 countries.

As new aircraft designs are introduced which have better fuel economy and quieter engines, the resulting profits for airlines have allowed for route expansion across the country. The financial impact for Baldwin County is still unknown, but travelers will eliminate some cost and wasted time with the new service.