Allegiant Airlines COO steps down after 23 years of service

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Longtime Allegiant Airlines Chief Operation Officer stepped down from his position Monday, according to Allegiant Travel Company.

Keny F. Wilper spent 23 years with the company and will stay on as an advisor while the company searches for his successor.The decision to step down from my role as COO was not made lightly, but I need to take time away to focus on my family, who have faced some significant challenges,” Mr. Wilper said. “It has been a tremendous privilege to be part of this company. “

Tyler Hollingsworth, the company’s senior vice president of flight operations will serve as interim COO and has been with Allegiant since 2010.

The company announced the change on Monday, adding that Wilper served in several key operation roles and helped the airline’s first-ever ancillary inflight and baggage programs.Allegiant Travel Company announced on March 3, 2025, that Keny F. Wilper, Chief Operating Officer (COO), has stepped down from his position after a distinguished 23-year career with the airline. Wilper will continue to serve as an advisor during the search for his successor, with Tyler Hollingsworth, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, assuming the role of interim COO.

Wilper joined Allegiant in 2002 and played a pivotal role in transforming the airline into an ultra-low-cost carrier. He was instrumental in developing Allegiant’s ancillary inflight and baggage programs, which have become integral to the company’s business model. Throughout his tenure, Wilper held various leadership positions, significantly contributing to Allegiant’s operational efficiency and financial performance.

Expressing gratitude towards his colleagues and the Allegiant team, Wilper stated that stepping down was a difficult decision made to focus on family matters. He expressed pride in Allegiant’s evolution from a fledgling airline to a significant force in leisure travel and confidence in the company’s bright future.

Interim COO Tyler Hollingsworth has been with Allegiant since 2010, starting as a line pilot before advancing to Vice President of Safety and Security. In that role, he consolidated the Safety and Security departments and implemented transformative safety system designs. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic earned Allegiant recognition as a “Seven-Star airline for safety and COVID-19 protection” by Airline Ratings. As Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, Hollingsworth oversaw the Operations Control Center, Flight Operations, and Inflight Operations, managing over half of the company’s 6,100 employees.

Allegiant’s President and CEO, Gregory C. Anderson, praised Wilper’s contributions, stating that his leadership and collaborative approach greatly improved the company’s operations. Anderson also expressed confidence in Hollingsworth’s ability to maintain Allegiant’s momentum and continue enhancing operations, citing his extensive experience and outstanding leadership qualities.

Allegiant, based in Las Vegas, is an integrated travel company focused on connecting customers with essential destinations and experiences. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation spots with nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, its fleet serves communities nationwide, offering base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket.