Jesse Fosnaugh began his tenure as the director of the Gulf Shores International Airport on Dec. 30.

Since then, he’s administered the forthcoming opening of a new commercial air service from a new two-gate airport in Gulf Shores. It’s the first time Gulf Shores will have commercial air service in the city’s history. It’s also the first time Allegiant Air will provide service from an airport in Alabama.

Fosnaugh provides the details of the new airport, the inaugural flight and what people can expect:

Is everything ready for the opening on Wednesday? Is the construction officially completed, or will there be last-minute punch-list items that are needed to be completed? Everything will be ready for our first flight on May 21, 2025, on Allegiant. The first flight departs around 5:15 p.m. to Knoxville. The terminal is completed and tenants are currently outfitting their work areas, furniture is getting installed, and final placement of signs and other wayfinding is underway.

How many total employees are lined up to greet passengers on Wednesday? How many new TSA agents in Gulf Shores? How many new general employees and those in the new tower who will be handling commercial flights? While I cannot divulge specific TSA or FAA staffing numbers, between ticket agents, law enforcement, fire department, baggage handlers, TSA, rental car and airport operations staff, we expect nearly 50 employees to greet the flight on May 21.

How many people will Allegiant employ at the airport? Allegiant will be represented by a third-party business contractor, Trego-Dugan, to perform aircraft ground handling and ticketing functions. They expect around 20 people to be part of the operation here in Gulf Shores.

What other public resources will be present at the airport – i.e., will there be Gulf Shores police and fire rescue with a full-time presence? The airport will have multiple agencies involved in the day-to-day operations. Aircraft Rescue Firefighting and Airport Law Enforcement responsibilities will be fulfilled by Gulf Shores Fire Department and Gulf Shores Police Department. The Public Works Department of the city of Gulf Shores also provides all landscaping and groundskeeping for the airport. It takes a village.

Back in late December, some of the beach rentals said they had concerns about transportation options from the airport to the beach condos and rentals. Do those concerns still exist? If not, how have they been resolved when it comes to getting visitors from the airport to the beach rentals (non-hotels)? There will be a plethora of ground transportation options available once you arrive into the terminal. We have arrangements with multiple shuttle and ground transportation providers including Surfside Shuttle, Robin’s Rides, and Beach Express Taxi. We also have arrangements with Uber (and) Lyft to service the airport. Rental Cars will also be available with Enterprise and Alamo. Our visitors and residents alike are going to have a seamless experience getting in and out of the airport.

An overwhelming number of vacationers to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach visit the area via automobile. What is the goal for the new airport when it comes to bringing visitors to the area – (is there a percentage or a number that is being targeted in a particular time frame?) We fully expect to have 60,000 passengers in 2025. About 80% of these passengers will be visitors and 20% will be residents flying out. Our goal is to be the premiere gateway to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Foley. Our airport team will be an extension of the hospitality that our visitors and residents have come to expect. Using our airport will be easier than ever. A true world-class experience.

What time is the flight on May 21 to McGhee Tyson Airport? The flight arrives at 1:14 p.m. and departs at 5:15 p.m.

Is it a full flight? If so, how many passengers? We do not have confirmed numbers but the flight looks well-booked in both directions when we look to buy tickets online it looks to be about 65 people booked as of today for the first flight from Knoxville on 5/21.

What time should passengers show up for this inaugural flight? 3 hours prior

Any inaugural events planned at the airport on the 21st? We will have an invite-only ribbon cutting ceremony from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Will there be any inaugural swag given out at the airport – first flight keychains, or baggage tags or anything interesting like that? We’ll have a variety of exclusive swag for the inaugural event for our guests and passengers.

Alabama softball has a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s super regional round on Sunday. The Crimson Tide is set to face Virginia Tech in the Tuscaloosa regional, needing just one win to move on.

The Tide and Hokies faced off once already, on Saturday, when Alabama won 4-3 in the early game. VT then faced Belmont later in the day, winning 11-1 in six innings to keep its own season alive.

If Alabama wins the first game, the Crimson Tide advances, likely to the Norman super regional. However, if Virginia Tech wins, UA will get another crack at the Hokies later on Sunday.

The first game of Sunday’s action is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. CT at Rhoads Stadium. The matchup will be aired on ESPN+.

Follow along here for live updates once the game begins.

1st inning

— Without a single pitch thrown, the game is already in a lightning delay.

Pregame

— Catelyn Riley will pitch for Alabama. Emma Lemley will start in the circle for Virginia Tech.

— Alabama batting order: Audrey Vandagriff, Lauren Johnson, Kali Heivilin, Marlie Giles, Salen Hawkins, Brooke Ellestad, Mari Hubbard, Abby Duchscherer, Larissa Preuitt.

— VT batting order: Cori McMillan, Jordan Lynch, Zoe Yaeger, Kylie Aldridge, Bre Peck, Emily LeGette, Trinity Martin, Annika Rohs, Rachel Castine.

— Alabama will bat first as the designated road team, despite playing in its home stadium.

Alabama baseball is kicking off the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament bright and early.

Scheduled to take place from May 20 to May 25 at the Hoover Met, this year marks a historic expansion, featuring all 16 SEC teams for the first time, competing in a single-elimination format.

Alabama enters the tournament as the No. 9 seed, finishing the regular season with a 16–14 conference record and an overall record of 40–15.  The Crimson Tide will face No. 16 seed Missouri on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. CT.

REQUIRED READING: Rob Vaughn hitting milestones with Alabama baseball, but he almost didn’t take the job

WHAT HAPPENED? Day after milestone, Alabama baseball’s regular season ends with loss at Florida: Recap, highlights

If Alabama wins, it will advance to the second round on Wednesday, May 21, to play No. 8 seed Tennessee at 9:30 a.m. CT. A victory in that game would set up a quarterfinal matchup against No. 1 seed Texas on Thursday, May 22, at 3:00 p.m. CT.

Alabama baseball to play Tuesday in first game of 2025 SEC Tournament

The full tournament schedule is as follows:

First Round – Tuesday, May 20:

• Game 1: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 16 Missouri – 9:30 a.m. CT
• Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Kentucky – 12:30 p.m. CT
• Game 3: No. 10 Florida vs. No. 15 South Carolina – 4:30 p.m. CT
• Game 4: No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 14 Texas A&M – 8:00 p.m. CT

Second Round – Wednesday, May 21:

• Game 5: No. 8 Tennessee vs. Winner of Game 1 – 9:30 a.m. CT
• Game 6: No. 5 Georgia vs. Winner of Game 2 – 12:30 p.m. CT
• Game 7: No. 7 Ole Miss vs. Winner of Game 3 – 4:30 p.m. CT
• Game 8: No. 6 Auburn vs. Winner of Game 4 – 8:00 p.m. CT

Quarterfinals – Thursday, May 22 to Friday, May 23

• Game 9: No. 1 Texas vs. Winner of Game 5 – Thursday, May 22, 3:00 p.m. CT
• Game 10: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. Winner of Game 6 – Thursday, May 22, 6:00 p.m. CT
• Game 11: No. 2 Arkansas vs. Winner of Game 7 – Friday, May 23, 3:00 p.m. CT
• Game 12: No. 3 LSU vs. Winner of Game 8 – Friday, May 23, 6:00 p.m. CT

Semifinals – Saturday, May 24:

• Game 13: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 – 12:00 p.m. CT
• Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12 – 3:00 p.m. CT

Championship – Sunday, May 25:

• Game 15: Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 14 – 2:00 p.m. CT

All games will be broadcast on SEC Network, with the championship game airing on ESPN2

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.