Forget Interstate 65. Starting May 21, North Alabama beach lovers can trade the traffic jam for a boarding pass.

Huntsville International Airport will launch nonstop service to Gulf Shores International Airport through Allegiant Air, making it Alabama’s only intra-state commercial nonstop route. The flight cuts the traditional drive to the Alabama Gulf Coast to under 60 minutes, with one-way fares starting at $39.

Huntsville International Airport Chief Executive Officer Butch Roberts said the new service has been a long time coming.

“You can feel the anticipation in the community,” Roberts said. “For years, our customers have asked for a way to get to the Alabama Gulf Coast without the headache of the drive, and that’s soon to be a reality. You can literally spend lunch hour in North Alabama and be at the white sands of the Gulf in time to pick out your fresh seafood for dinner.”

The Gulf Shores route joins three Allegiant Florida destinations already operating out of Huntsville International, including Fort Lauderdale, St. Pete/Clearwater and Sanford/Orlando, all with fares starting at $39 one way.

Joey Ceci, board chair for Huntsville International Airport, said the community response has validated the push for expanded service.

“We’ve seen incredible demand for all four of these Allegiant routes,” Ceci said. “Bringing more seats and lower fares to our market was the goal, and the community’s response shows they were ready for it. The countdown is on; it’s time to skip the drive and fly!”

Tickets for the May 21 inaugural flight are available now at Allegiant.com. Service to Gulf Shores is scheduled through Dec. 2, with flights operating Thursdays and Sundays.

Huntsville International has been named the No. 1 small airport in the United States by Newsweek Reader’s Choice Awards in both 2024 and 2025. The airport serves more than 1.7 million passengers annually with nonstop service to 18 destinations.