INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — America’s largest ultra low-cost air carriers are on decidedly different flight paths this week.

One is struggling to survive, while two others are announcing expanded schedules – including new flights into and out of Indianapolis.

Spirit Airlines declared bankruptcy Monday in an attempt to reboot as it struggles to gain financial altitude lost during the pandemic travel swoon and the airline’s scuttled sale to JetBlue.

Spirit has worked out terms with its stakeholders leading to the Chapter 11 filing, and the carrier says it will keep operating as normal.

Now, Allegiant and Frontier announced Tuesday are rolling out new flight schedules.

In Allegiant’s case, it’s the company’s largest ever – with 44 new routes and service to three new cities.

“We’re excited to announce that Allegiant is expanding nationwide, offering even more travel options to our customers,” Drew Wells, Allegiant’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement accompanying the new schedule. “These additions reflect our ongoing commitment to meet customer demand. By connecting more cities, we’re making it easier for travelers to visit family and friends, access top leisure destinations, and create new memories.”

The headline addition for Indiana readers is a non-stop route between Indianapolis (IND) and Portland, Oregon (PDX), beginning May 23, 2025.

Allegiant is starting service to Gulf Shores, Alabama (GUF), Colorado Springs, Colorado (COS), and Columbia, South Carolina (CAE).

The additions bring Allegiant’s service map to 51 cities in all.

Frontier’s new Indianapolis offerings are non-stops to Tampa and Atlanta, allowing customers to skip the customary Denver connection that currently adds several hours and thousands to those routes.

The Tampa flights will debut March 6, 2025 and take off three times per week.
The Atlanta flights begin the next day, March 7, 2025 and also repeat three times each week.

Both airlines are offering introductory fares well below regular price. Frontier’s new IND flights start as low as $19. Allegiant’s begin at $79.

The City-County Council’s Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee on Monday approved a proposal to change the city’s restrictions on billboards. The move is part of a compromise after state lawmakers nearly passed a similar provision into law this year.

A measure from state lawmakers would have allowed owners of billboards to relocate them without receiving a city permit. When that proposal was introduced as an amendment to a transportation bill in January, local groups including Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis, or HUNI, came out against it. The measure was eventually withdrawn.

Shannon Norman, principal planner for code revision, said state lawmakers instead gave the Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration the task of meeting with representatives of the billboard industry to find a compromise on relocation and Indy’s current standards.

Norman told the council metropolitan and economic development committee Monday that Proposition 349 is that compromise. The change gives advertisers the option of relocating signs, Norman said, but upholds the long-held restriction that there cannot be new billboards inside of the Interstate 465 loop. That restriction was established in 2002 and most recently affirmed in a 2019 council vote.

Members of neighborhood advocacy groups like HUNI and the Marion County Alliance of Neighborhood Associations have long been against the proliferation of billboards in the center of the city.

Norman said the city measure maintains that goal, but gives billboard owners more leeway to relocate signs.

Mainly, the proposal states that companies may relocate billboards that are within the Interstate 465 loop from one placement to another on the same parcel of land without obtaining a permit. Outside the loop, signs can be relocated to different parcels without obtaining a permit. In both cases, the billboards cannot be enlarged.

Representatives from both groups representing neighborhoods spoke favorably of the proposal, which aims to maintain local control where state lawmakers were planning to intervene.

“It protects from rampant proliferation of billboards while reiterating the importance of certain development standards that impact the aesthetics and the quality of life in our community,” Pat Andrews of the Alliance of Neighborhood Associations, told the committee.

The full City-County Council will vote on the proposal Dec. 2.

On Sunday afternoon, the Indianapolis Colts were reassured when the 2023 fourth-overall selection Anthony Richardson had a breakout performance against the New York Jets. In a recent article from ESPN detailing the biggest questions and takeaways from every week 11 contest, the Colts’ entry does a deeper dive into Richardson’s shining showing. The simple question is, “Did quarterback Anthony Richardson show progress in his return to the lineup?”

It was not perfect, but Richardson took a step in the right direction after two weeks on the bench. He was more rhythmic in his passing, more accurate with his throws and more in command of the offense. His final numbers — 20-of-30 for 272 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions — were a mixed bag. But he didn’t turn the ball over, which had plagued him earlier in the season.

– Stephen Holder | ESPN

Richardson was electric, especially as the game was coming to a close when Indianapolis needed plays to win. Most notably, Richardson took over in the red zone during the fourth quarter to catapult Indianapolis to a late lead over the Jets.

Holder continues in his breakdown of Richardson.

The other variable of note was coach Shane Steichen’s adjusted playcalling. The offensive play selection seemed to mesh better with Richardson’s skills, including a significant increase in designed quarterback runs.

– Stephen Holder | ESPN

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As Stephen Holder mentions, Shane Steichen implemented plenty of runs and emphasized that often. While there were junctions in the game where Steichen should have started throwing a bit more, the result is all that matters. Jonathan Taylor struggled on 24 carries with just 57 yards (2.4 average), but Richardson led the ground attack with 2 touchdowns on 10 carries and 32 rushing yards (3.2 average).

The Colts have a tough matchup as they’ll defend home turf against the red-hot Detroit Lions. If Richardson can carry over the momentum from defeating New York on the road, the Colts will have a chance to stay close to the Lions’ super-powered offense led by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Richardson’s prep this week will be key to building off a fantastic game that was the best of his young NFL career. We’ll see what happens as the week unfolds following a much-needed win to push Indy to 5-6.

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