Avelo is adding 4 new West Coast routes in latest network update
Editor's Note
Avelo Airlines, one of America's newest startup carriers, is making another route-map adjustment.
This time, Avelo isn't cutting any of its existing flights. Rather, it's adding four new destinations, all of which are designed to connect Burbank and the greater Los Angeles metro area with nearby cities that boast plenty of leisure activities.
To kick off the growth, the airline is adding flights to Provo, Utah, located roughly an hour south of the state's capital of Salt Lake City. That service begins Sept. 17.
Later that month, the carrier will add flights to Monterey, California, followed in early October by service to Fort Collins, Colorado, and St. George, Utah. You'll find the full details of Avelo's latest expansion in the table below.
One-way fares to Monterey begin at $39, while the other three routes start at $49. Note that seat assignments, checked bags and ticket changes are all available for an additional charge.
| Origin | Destination | Start date | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burbank (BUR) | Provo, Utah (PVU) | Sept. 17 | Mondays, Fridays |
| Burbank (BUR) | Monterey, California (MRY) | Sept. 30 | Thursdays, Sundays |
| Burbank (BUR) | Fort Collins-Loveland, Colorado (FNL) | Oct. 6 | Wednesdays, Saturdays |
| Burbank (BUR) | St. George, Utah (SGU) | Oct. 7 | Thursdays, Sundays |
As mentioned, much of this growth is focused on destinations in close proximity to outdoor-friendly activities. Avelo's network and ultra-low-cost structure cater to leisure travelers, so cities like St. George, the gateway to Zion National Park, seemingly make sense for expansion.
While Avelo will have a monopoly on all four routes, it'll still face some serious headwinds in Provo and Fort Collins. From Burbank, there are plenty of flights on competing airlines to Salt Lake City and Denver, which are close alternatives to Avelo's new destinations. While the airline markets service to these smaller airports as a more convenient option, it may need to convince travelers to fly there instead of the major cities nearby.
Avelo's announcement, to be officially released on Thursday, is the latest network update from the three-month-old carrier. At the beginning of July, Avelo dropped two cities from its route map, Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT), and Bozeman, Montana (BZN), and also tweaked the number of frequencies on many of its other routes.
Then, two weeks ago, the airline unveiled a new Santa Rosa (STS) to Las Vegas (LAS) route. Though Avelo will be the only carrier to fly between the two cities, the market has been served before by other low-cost airlines — and none of stuck. Avelo's hoping for better luck.
And if things don't work out on the West Coast, the airline can always rely on its East Coast ambitions.
In early May, the carrier unveiled plans to open its first East Coast base in New Haven, Connecticut. The city's Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (HVN) is currently undergoing enhancements to facilitate commercial service with a Boeing 737. That work is still underway, which has caused Avelo to delay its New Haven launch until early November.
Editor's note: This post has been updated to show the correct information regarding the location of Provo within the state of Utah.