UPDATE | Allegiant denies airport officials blindsided by service cut

VIENNA — Confusion about who knew what – and when – is surrounding today's surprise announcement that Allegiant Airlines is pulling out of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

While officials at first claimed they were blindsided by media accounts that the airport's only commercial airliner was leaving, that story is not bearing up under scrutiny.

The Vindicator has learned that officials at the airport and the Western Reserve Port Authority have known Allegiant was leaving since last week after an Allegiant employee called and told the airport's aviation director of the airline's plans.

"As far as when the airport found out, I can tell you they 100 percent knew well in advance of today," said Krysta Levy, Allegiant spokeswoman.

"Demand in the area was simply not high enough to continue service at this time," Levy said. "Any passengers [who] have booked travel in or out of Youngstown after that date will be reached out to individually to be refunded or reaccommodated."

Watch Vindy.com for updates and see Saturday's Vindicator for our exclusive report.