Allegiant Travel Co. has finalized a deal for two of the six used Boeing 757-200 aircraft it plans to acquire for its startup Hawaii service, and said it plans to begin flying to the islands in the first half of 2011.

The Las Vegas-based company, which announced last month its intentions to fly to Hawaii, said yesterday it still needs to complete Federal Aviation Administration requirements to add the 757 to its operating certificate, as well as receive authority to fly over water.

Maurice Gallagher, chairman and chief executive officer of Allegiant, said in a conference call he believes Hawaii could be one of the company's best destinations.

“;We're very excited about our prospects for Hawaii,”; he said. “;It has all the positive attributes we see in a number of our destinations, and more, including the expectation of a high hotel-take rate given the nature of Hawaii as a destination; a longer hotel stay with higher unit revenue than our other key hotel market, Las Vegas; one of our highest rental car take rates in the U.S.; and more possibilities for attractions given the outdoor nature of the Hawaii vacation.”;

Allegiant, which operates as a full-service travel company linking travelers in small cities to leisure destinations, closed the deal for the two 757s in March and expects them to be in service by the end of this year, but not immediately to Hawaii. The company has a purchase agreement for four more 757s for Hawaii. The company, which is unable to serve Hawaii with its existing MD-80 fleet, plans to add two 757s later this year and the final two late next year.

It plans to offer service to Hawaii through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, from smaller cities that don't offer nonstop service to the islands. Among the western cities Allegiant serves are Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Maria, Fresno, Monterey, Oakland and Stockton, Calif.; Medford, Eugene and Bend, Ore.; Bellingham and Pasco, Wash.; Mesa, Ariz.; and Las Vegas.

Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said the earliest the company would be prepared to announce routes, schedules, pricing and start dates would be the fourth quarter.

“;It is all subject to a regulatory process that we cannot control, and that is why we cannot give more guidance beyond that,”; she said.

Andrew Levy, president and chief financial officer of Allegiant, said the company doesn't plan any code-shares for its Hawaii service. Code-sharing allows a carrier to sell seats on another airline.

“;We don't think that's something that we need to be getting into,”; he said. “;We just don't think the benefits justify the expense and complexity that comes with that.”;

Allegiant is coming off its 29th consecutive profitable quarter even though its net income fell 19.8 percent to $22.6 million from $28.2 million in the year-earlier period as aircraft fuel soared nearly 72 percent to $57.4 million. Revenue rose 19.4 percent to $169.6 million from $142.1 million.