Avelo won't go head-to-head with Breeze after all
Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways will not be competing head-to-head after all.
Avelo has decided to not begin service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Charleston International Airport (CHS), which was slated to commence on June 30. The move comes after Breeze announced service between the same two city pairs hours after Avelo did — at a lower fare that Avelo eventually matched.
"Unfortunately, current demand is not sufficient to justify flying the CHS-MCO route at today's record-high jet fuel prices," an Avelo spokesperson told TPG, confirming news that was first spotted by avid Twitter user Ishrion Aviation.
Breeze's scheduled entry into the market on June 23 was also likely a factor in Avelo's decision to not begin this service. Breeze – buoyed by low costs and what's thought to be a favorable deal for some of its used aircraft -- likely needs to sell fewer tickets to break even. Avelo planned to enter this market with a higher fare and without Breeze's competition. While it's possible those economics would have worked, the added competition from Breeze — which also would split demand up between the airlines — perhaps made the economics untenable for Avelo.
Still, Breeze won't have the route entirely to itself.
Along with Breeze, the route will continue to be operated twice weekly by Silver Airways and its distinctive pink-colored ATR-72 turboprops. It did not exit this market after the head-to-head competition was announced in April, though notably, its fares do drop in late June after Breeze begins its service.
Avelo still remains fully committed to the Orlando market, which was recently announced as the airline's third operating base, the spokesperson said.
More: Avelo and Breeze to compete head-to-head for 1st time on route announced on the same day
From Orlando, Avelo will serve two new markets: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM), in addition to service to its other East Coast base at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) in Connecticut.
Undoubtedly, the airline will announce more service from Orlando soon as it bulks up its new base and replaces the Charleston flying.
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