Changes are coming to Nebraska as one carrier leaves the Lincoln airport, and heads west to Grand Island.

Allegiant Air has been providing service to Las Vegas from Lincoln for nearly 2.5 years.

Now, passengers will be traveling much further for their destination flight.

Beginning Sept. 4, the Lincoln airport will be losing nearly 300 passengers each week, from two Allegiant Air flights that provided non-stop service to Las Vegas.

The airline cites several reasons for the move, saying Grand Island would be a better hub than Lincoln.

Lincoln airport officials say it is a move they're disappointed to see.

Passengers looking for a weekend getaway to Sin City, will now be spending their poker and roulette winnings on more gas money.

That is because after Sept. 4, Allegiant Air will no longer provide non-stop service out of Lincoln to Las Vegas. That service will be moved to Grand Island.

"We're disappointed. I would expect passengers to be disappointed. We worked very hard to get allegiant here two and a half years ago, and were very excited to get that destination and that non-stop service," said John Wood, Executive Director of the Lincoln Airport.

Wood said Allegiant Air, much like many other airline providers, has been struggling for some time.

"The issue with allegiant is the price of fuel, and their ability to raise ticket prices to cover that. They've been losing money for a couple months," Wood said.

Wood said one of Allegiant's main deterrents from staying in the Capital City, is the close proximity of Eppley Airfield in Omaha.

"It's close enough that if southwest, for example, still has cheaper fares, then that keeps them from being able to raise their fares to cover their costs," Wood said.

The move not only affects the Lincoln Airport. Local travel agents say it affects area passengers as well.

"People like the convenience. They like the idea of being able to drive a mile, instead of 50 miles," said Phil Walker, Executive Travel.

Wood said the passengers are the airport's number one priority and they plan to do everything possible, keeping them hitting the skies from Lincoln, with hitting the jackpot on their mind.

"We continue to talk to carriers, some of which have some promise in the future if the economy turns around, and we'll continue to do that, and try to get some more destinations," Wood said.

Because Allegiant Air is not leaving Lincoln until Sept. 4, all reservations made before then will be honored.

For those customers who have booked a flight beyond Sept. 4, they will either have to fly out of Grand Island, or have their tickets refunded.

Wood said this is not the first city Allegiant Air has pulled out of, several airports have already lost them as a service provider in the past year.