New budget airline Avelo announces 12 cities, will begin flying April 28
Say hello to Avelo Airlines.
The new budget carrier – one of two start-ups set to launch this year – plans to begin flying April 28 with service from its base in Burbank, California, to 11 cities in the West. Fares will begin at $19 one way, with sales beginning Thursday at 11 a.m. ET, according to the new airline's website.
Avelo's inaugural flight will be from Burbank to Santa Rosa, California.
The carrier's business model will focus on connecting underserved markets that currently lack nonstop connections. It's targeting routes that currently require connections, betting that major rivals won't follow it into the smaller markets it plans to serve.
"After more than 20 years of steadily shrinking consumer choice, the American flying public wants and deserves more options and lower fares," Avelo Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a Thursday statement detailing the launch. Levy helped launch Avelo after time at both Allegiant and United, including as the latter's chief financial officer.
If Levy's start-up plan for Avelo sounds familiar, it should. It's the same strategy that serial airline entrepreneur David Neeleman – best known in the U.S. for launching JetBlue – is using for his own start-up. That carrier, Breeze Airways, also is expected to start flying this spring.
For now, though, Avelo will get the jump.
It will fly 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 129 standard slimline 29-inch pitch seats and an extra-legroom section with 60 seats.
Another start-up? David Neeleman's new airline, Breeze, just cleared a major hurdle
Avelo's base fares may be low, but the carrier says it will offer "several unbundled travel-enhancing options" that will cost extra. They include:
- First Checked Bag: $10
- Carry-On Overhead Bag: $35
- Priority Boarding: $10
- Pet in the Cabin: $95
Additionally, advance seat assignments also will cost extra. "Pre-reserved" window and aisle seats start at $5 per passenger. The extra-legroom section – where seats offer anywhere from 31 to 38 inches of pitch – will start at $18.
While Avelo will launch April 28, its full roster of initial destinations will slowly ramp up through late May. The full list of Avelo's first cities and launch dates are below. For now, all flights will be to or from Avelo's base in Burbank (BUR).
- Arcata/Eureka, California (ACV): Begins May 19 (4x weekly)
- Bend/Redmond, Oregon (RDM): Begins May 13 (3x weekly)
- Bozeman, Montana (BZN): Begins April 30 (4x weekly)
- Eugene, Oregon (EUG): Begins May 12 (4x weekly)
- Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT): Begins May 9 (4x weekly)
- Medford, Oregon (MFR): Begins May 9 (4x weekly)
- Mesa/Phoenix, Arizona (AZA): Begins May 12 (daily)
- Pasco, Washington (PSC): Begins April 29 (3x weekly)
- Ogden, Utah (OGD): Begins May 4 (6x weekly)
- Redding, California (RDD): Begins May 20 (3x weekly)
- Santa Rosa, California (STS): Begins April 28 (daily)
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees