Startup airline Avelo opens new base in Orlando, adds more routes on 1st anniversary
Avelo Airlines is celebrating its first birthday on Thursday with a big announcement: its third operating base.
The Houston-headquartered ultra-low-cost startup is headed to Central Florida and opening its third base at Orlando International Airport (MCO), one of the country's most popular leisure destinations.
While Avelo already serves Orlando, operating bases are important at the airline. Each has hosted entirely different route networks — without any overlap — though that will now change with the Orlando base. The airline's first base was at the Hollywood-Burbank Airport (BUR) where the inaugural flight to Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) took place last April 28. That was followed in November by the airline's first East Coast base, Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN).
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Avelo is announcing two new Orlando destinations on top of its new route to Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), that was announced on Tuesday. But look for additional growth from Orlando beyond Thursday's announcement, as has happened at Avelo's other bases.
“Avelo is poised for continued growth as we add more planes, more Crewmembers, more destinations and more bases — including our new base in Orlando," CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement. "I’m very appreciative of the warm reception The Sunshine State has greeted Avelo with since we began flying here last November. I’m looking forward to the positive economic and community impact Avelo will make in Orlando and across Florida as we increase our investment here in the years ahead.”
The first new route is to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). This seasonal route will operate five times a week from June 30 to Sept. 6. Avelo will face fierce competition on this route from Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines. Southwest alone will operate as many as nine roundtrips a day on this route this summer, according to Cirium schedule data. Avelo will also compete against airlines that serve the region's other two airports, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Avelo's fares start at $59 on its BWI-Orlando route.
More: Avelo and Breeze to compete head-to-head for 1st time on route announced on the same day
The second new route is also a new city for Avelo: Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM). It will be served three days a week from Orlando starting on July 1. Avelo will be the only airline operating from Wilmington to Orlando, which is dominated by hub service from American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. In addition to the Orlando route, Avelo will also serve BWI seasonally from July 1 to Nov. 7, and New Haven three days per week starting June 30. The introductory fare for the ILM-Orlando route is $49.
All routes will be operated with Avelo's Boeing 737-700 aircraft, and the airline will base two of them in Orlando. The airline plans to have 15 737-700s and 737-800s — which operate West Coast routes — in its fleet by the end of the year.
The airline also announced that it is consolidating its training in Orlando. All Avelo pilots and flight attendants will now receive training from Avenger Flight Group at the company's Orlando campus, starting this summer.
As Avelo enters its second year, it currently has 160 flight attendants and pilots — and expects hundreds more in the years to come.
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It's hard to find a card that competes with the mile-long list of benefits that come with the Amex Business Platinum. While it's certainly not the card for the average consumer, a business owner with tons of expenses -- especially related to travel -- will find this card incredibly valuable. This card is similar to the consumer version that Amex offers, but with more business-oriented perks around statement credits and earning rates that are a better fit for business owners.Pros
- An up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four to five years
- Up to $400 annual credit for eligible U.S. Dell purchases (enrollment required)
- Gold status at Marriott and Hilton hotels (enrollment required)
- Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program and Hotel Collection
- Extended warranty protection
- International Airline Program and Cruise Privileges Program
Cons
- Steep annual fee
- Difficulty meeting $15,000 welcome offer for smaller businesses
- Limited high-bonus categories outside of travel
- The Points Guy Exclusive Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
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- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. CLEAR® is available at more than 50 U.S. airports and stadiums.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.