Gulf Shores International Airport announced Tuesday the addition of a twice-weekly non-stop flight to Nashville starting in November, marking the ninth destination to the new facility that opened its doors in late May.

The service to Nashville International Airport begins on Nov. 20, according to Allegiant Air’s website. The fare for the initial flight is $44.50 for one passenger, with the return trip on Sunday, Nov. 23, at $49.

Tickets are on sale through February 2026, though it’s unclear whether the route will continue into the spring and summer.

“This is a home run,” said Jesse Fosnaugh, director of Gulf Shores International Airport.

He anticipates the schedule going beyond next February.

“The flights are currently marketed as ‘seasonal’ however, that is primarily because the Allegiant flight schedule is published system-wide through mid-February,” Fosnaugh said. “I fully expect flights to continue longer based on the popularity of this route.”

He said that there are on average 380 people who travel daily between Gulf Shores and Nashville by vehicle – a 14-plus hour roundtrip. He said that data from a 2023 study based on cell-phone data shows where cell phones originate, and where they end up and how long they spend at a specific location.

Fosnaugh said eliminating the drive will give “visitors more vacation time, reduce their travel fatigue, and give back disposable income previously spent on fuel and vehicle expenses.”

Fosnaugh added, “Not to mention, our residents will have easy access to the Music City on a flight that takes a little more than an hour.”

The news follows an announcement earlier this month that Lulu’s is opening a food and beverage operation at the airport. The service begins sometime this week.

Lulu’s is a coastal institution with its venue located in Gulf Shores not far from the airport. Sister restaurants are in Destin, Fla., and North Myrtle Beach, S.C. It’s owned by Lucy Buffett, sister of the late legendary performer Jimmy Buffett.

An expansion plan is also in the works. The Gulf Shores Airport Authority recently entered into an agreement with Vasey Aviation Group to evaluate a design for terminal enhancements. If pursued, the improvements would include an expanded gate area, added curbside space, and enlarged baggage claim facilities. A final decision on whether to pursue the project will be determined later this fall.

The airport has welcomed 10,000 passengers in less than two months since opening officially on May 21. Those initial figures, reported in early July, represent a 25% boost over the projections.

Allegiant Airlines offers direct connections to airports in Knoxville, Tenn.; Cincinnati; Houston; Kansas City; Fayetteville, Ark; and Belleville, Ill., which is near St. Louis.

Starting in October, the Las Vegas-based airline will add two new seasonal services from Gulf Shores to Appleton, Wis., and Des Moines, Iowa. Those two new routes were announced at the same time the airport opened in late May.