First launching operations out of the Burbank Hollywood Airport in April 2021, Avelo Airlines set out to shake the market up by introducing affordable flights to various destinations by serving secondary airports such as Burbank, Santa Rosa, and others. The concept for Avelo was straightforward: by serving smaller airports, such as Santa Rosa instead of San Francisco or Oakland, or Burbank instead of Los Angeles, they could offer lower fares, thereby increasing the carrier’s bottom line.
After a rocky start, Avelo began gaining traction as it continued to introduce new destinations not served by other carriers from Burbank or Southern California directly, including Ogden, UT; Pasco, WA; and, most recently, Salem, OR. They expanded their West Coast operations for a time, using Las Vegas as a base before relocating to Santa Rosa and extending flight options to various cities.
Even while expanding operations and offering more flights to additional destinations, Avelo still faced challenges with consistency and competition from other airlines. Most Avelo flights operated two or three times a week and were usually centered around Burbank, meaning many flights left Burbank in the morning and returned in the afternoon, which was difficult for business travelers or those arriving in the morning. Additionally, other carriers began adding flights on similar routes to Avelo, increasing competition from airlines already established in those markets.
While expanding on the West Coast, Avelo launched East Coast operations from New Haven, CT, an airport that lost all commercial service in 2020 and briefly resumed operations in 2021. Avelo started New Haven in November 2021 and has continued growing its East Coast operations to include multiple bases and destinations, with East Coast operations now nearly three times the size of West Coast operations, and the two never connecting.
Flights along the eastern seaboard have continued to grow, while the west coast has seen a decrease in flights. With a smaller fleet and two systems that don’t connect, Avelo needed to be more strategic about where it bases its aircraft to maximize flight loads and revenue. Decisions were made to focus on profitable areas, and the West Coast started to see fewer flight options. In many cases, Avelo would announce new destinations that were canceled before flights took off or within a few months of launch.
This week, Avelo announced that the carrier is ending all operations on the West Coast by the end of the year, but many routes are ending next month, with only one or two routes operating through the end of the year. Avelo’s CEO, Andrew Levy, stated that the base closure and market exit are due to the “current operating environment.”
In August, Avelo will cease operating at the following airports: Salem-Willamette Valley Airport (SLE), Santa Rosa – Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), Las Vegas – Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), and Glacier Park International Airport (FCA). In December, the carrier will finalize all west coast operations by ending flights to Eugene Airport, Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV), Pasco – Tri-Cities Airport (PSC), and Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR).
For more information, including Avelo’s east coast operations, visit aveloair.com.
