Avelo Airlines released a statement professing that they will pull back from their activities at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. Their announced departure, effective from August 11, 2025, is in relation with the imminent closure of their base operations located in Burbank. This development does not hint at any modifications or withdrawal from their agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities to carry out deportation flights.
By August 12, Avelo will substantially downsize it’s operational footprint in Burbank. This will involve a step-by-step scaling back of the operation from two aircraft to one, before eventually exiting completely on December 2 of the same year. Among all its network, Burbank is the only hub set to be terminated by year-end.
Let’s switch our attention to Sonoma County where Avelo had maintained a quintet of flight routes. The dissolution process of these routes follows a specific timeline: Kalispell, Montana is set to cease on August 9, the Bend/Redmond, Oregon route folds on August 10 and flights to Burbank and Las Vegas will be discontinued on August 11. It is worth noting that their Palm Springs route was a seasonal service, and its operations have been temporarily suspended for an unspecified duration.
Airport Manager Jon Stout was officially informed about these developments earlier this morning. According to him, Avelo has been grappling with operational issues, specifically on their West Coast operations. Despite their efforts to bolster the frequency and utilization of their services to achieve a sustainable economy of scale, their objectives seemingly fell short.
Mr. Stout further revealed that he sought clarification if the national and local protests against Avelo’s ICE contract had influenced their decision. However, he confirmed that protests were not a factor that drove this decision-making process.
Avelo’s CEO, Andrew Levy, also weighed in on the subject. Speaking from his official capacity, he stated, ‘Decisions of this nature do not hinge on a single factor. In the present context, we believe that continuing our services from Burbank does not align with our financial expectations in the face of stiff competition.’
There is a sense of ambiguity as to why Avelo would fare better in the competitive Burbank/Los Angeles landscape at this specific moment. Avelo communicated its plans to discontinue its base operations at Charles. M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport on May 1, citing underwhelming financial performance as the reason. The base at STS had a run of exactly one year before its closure.
The STS region’s solo aircraft is set to be relocated to Mesa, Arizona. It will be deployed to carry out deportation flights as part of their agreement with ICE. This development seems to slightly favor the local branch of a national organization that has consistently protested against their contract with ICE.
The organization, which has organized weekly demonstrations at the airport since Avelo announced its ICE agreement, perceives the airline’s withdrawal from Sonoma County as a victory. They opine that their persistent efforts have led to a halt of Avelo’s operations beyond merely ferrying normal passengers.
Avelo’s plan is to wrap up its Burbank hub by late 2025 and concentrate on expanding its commercial footprint on the East Coast. Their focus will be on states where they already have established hubs. These states include Delaware, North Carolina, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Having observed Avelo’s continued struggles on the West Coast, Mr. Stout felt a strategic change was imminent. In his view, Avelo’s shift to the East Coast would allow them to prioritize growth in areas where they have established bases and access to larger population centers.
It is interesting to note that Avelo’s maiden voyage was on April 28, 2021, from Burbank to Sonoma County. As per Andrew Glassman of Avelo, the remaining aircraft in Burbank will continue service until December 2. The destinations include Humboldt County, Pasco in Washington, as well as Eugene, Medford, and Bend/Redmond, all in Oregon.
Avelo intends to provide its Burbank crew the chance to relocate if anyone desires. This opportunity allows crew members to transfer seamlessly to other Avelo operational bases. This move signifies that, although there may be some organizational changes and route discontinuations, employees will always remain a primary focus of the company.
While the unfolding changes depict a shift in Avelo’s operations, it does not necessarily suggest an end. Rather, it opens up a set of opportunities for this young airline to personalize its operations, overcome its challenges, and emerge stronger on the East Coast. Striking the right balance between scale, financial performance, and operational efficiency will indeed be the key to their successful future transitions.