Avelo drops 6 cities as it extends schedule to January, doubles down on New Haven and San Juan
Avelo Airlines has extended its schedule through early 2025, opening its booking channels for the holiday season and beyond. The carrier — which launched operations more than three years ago — will serve 49 destinations spanning 23 states and Puerto Rico, including 16 new destinations launched in recent months.
However, it's also making some network cuts in the process — a move that the airline said is about trimming routes that haven't been profitable.
Specifically, Avelo plans to pull out of a half-dozen cities altogether, TPG learned Tuesday.
The Houston-based ultra-low-cost carrier will cease operations at six small airports — either ending service in August or not resuming winter seasonal routes that operated this past year.
Network changes
Here's a rundown of Avelo's planned market exits:
- Lansing Airport (LAN) in Michigan — won't resume winter seasonal service
- Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) in Michigan — won't resume winter seasonal service
- Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ) in Iowa — won't resume winter seasonal service
- Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) — service ends Aug. 31
- Greater Binghamton Airport (BGM) in New York — service ends Aug. 18
- Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport (BRO) in Texas — service ends Aug. 31
In announcing the news, the carrier noted it's "grateful for the support" it received from these communities; however, it said service from these six airports has not been profitable and likely won't be in the foreseeable future.
"Every route Avelo flies must be profitable or be on a trend line towards that goal," the company said in a statement Tuesday. "In most cases, the routes we enter succeed and we continue service. However, with those that do not – like these six — we must make the difficult decision to exit the route and better utilize our resources in high-growth opportunities elsewhere in our network."
Map watching: The award for 'sexiest new route' of the year goes to ...
At five of the six airports above, Avelo served just one destination in 2024: Orlando International Airport (MCO). From Brownsville, the airline served not only Orlando but also its Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) base. One interesting sidenote is that Brownsville was Avelo's only city to be connected to both its East Coast and West Coast operations. Once that destination falls off Avelo's map, the carrier's eastern and western networks will have no overlap.
Small airports' challenges persistent in recent years
These cuts are sure to be disappointing news in these cities — some of which have struggled to land commercial air service in recent years. In April, TPG highlighted those specific challenges in Dubuque and at numerous other airports across the country. These challenges have been persistent since the pandemic.
Avelo sees growth potential
For Avelo's part, these changes are meant to facilitate future growth for the young airline.
"These changes allow us to double down on the high-growth opportunities ahead of us in our existing network," the company said. It noted it will "have more to share" later this month, perhaps teasing future plans to bolster service elsewhere.
Avelo has seen strong growth at some of its bases in recent months, to be sure. Most notably, the carrier has grown at a rapid pace this year out of Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) in Connecticut.
This summer, Avelo's scheduled seats out of New Haven are set to grow nearly 40% over last summer, Cirium data shows. It has grown at a similar pace in Burbank.
Loyalty basics: Best ways to earn airline miles
The carrier also recently opened a new crew base at Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, in the heart of California's wine country.
Schedule extension
Though Avelo's schedule extension into early January did not feature any new routes, the carrier noted it will increase its service frequency between New Haven and Luis Munoz International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Starting in November, Avelo will operate four weekly round trips instead of two — with flights running on Fridays and Mondays, in addition to its current Wednesday and Saturday schedule.
To date, Avelo has served 4.8 million customers on 38,000 flights since commencing service in April 2021.
Travelers can currently book Avelo flights through Jan. 7, 2025.
Related reading:
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