Avelo Airlines Launches New Route to Portland, Maine from Tweed-New Haven Airport
Avelo Airlines, known for its budget-friendly flights to sunny vacation destinations, has expanded its offerings by launching a new route to Portland, Maine from Tweed-New Haven Airport in Connecticut. This marks Avelo’s 30th destination from New Haven, where it is the largest airline by a significant margin.
Route Details and Schedule
The new nonstop service from Tweed-New Haven Airport will operate twice-weekly, on Sundays and Thursdays, through the summer season. The flight will take approximately one hour, covering a distance of 210 miles. Avelo will utilize its smaller Boeing 737-700 aircraft with a seating capacity of 149 economy seats.
Route: HVN → PWM
Days: Sundays, Thursdays
Flight Times: 19:10 → 20:12
Route: PWM → HVN
Days: Sundays, Thursdays
Flight Times: 20:56 → 21:59
A Potential Jumping Off Point for Growth
Portland International Jetport (PWM) handled 2. 5 million passengers last year, with most connecting to major hubs of legacy carriers. However, budget carrier Breeze Airways has a strong presence at the airport, offering ten routes across the East Coast and Midwest. Avelo now becomes the ninth carrier at PWM, and airport director Paul Bradbury is excited about the added connectivity for Portland.
Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy expressed his pride in launching the 30th route at Tweed-New Haven Airport, where the airline has a loyal following. He also sees potential for further growth in Maine, with Portland serving as a gateway to the greater New England and New York regions.
Mixed Year for Avelo Airlines
While Avelo Airlines is known for its experimentation with new routes, it has faced some challenges in 2021. The airline has announced new routes but has also canceled several, citing under-performance. It currently has a limited fleet of 21 aircraft and needs to respond quickly to changes in demand.
Canceled Routes in 2021
Some of the canceled routes were due to competitive conditions, such as at Concord where Avelo struggled to compete with Allegiant Airlines. In Hartford, where Breeze Airways has a strong position, Avelo also faced challenges. However, the airline also made the decision to shut down its base at Santa Rosa in Sonoma County to repurpose its aircraft for a contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to perform deportation flights.
Controversy Surrounding Deportation Flights
Avelo’s decision to carry out deportation flights for ICE has sparked public outrage and backlash. The airline has been facing boycotts, petitions, and public demonstrations at airports, and state and local governments have threatened actions such as removing tax breaks and restricting state contracts.