Allegiant Travel Co., the owner of Allegiant Air, has stopped construction on its $1 billion Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor in Southwest Florida just one year after breaking ground due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The company confirmed the move to shareholders in its first quarter earnings call this month.

The project was slated to take 18 to 24 months to build out. Allegiant previously reported that the first phase, which included 500 rooms as well as more than 180 extended-stay suites, conference space, restaurants, retail and a harbor walk, would open this year.

During the company’s earnings call, John Redmond, president of Allegiant, called COVID-19 “the ultimate hurdle.” Allegiant’s decision to suspend work at the Sunseeker project is part of overall cost-cutting measures taken to help the airline withstand the drop in air travel revenues due to COVID-19.

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