Budget airline known for $30 flights officially shuts down in California
Finding good deal flights in California just got a little harder.
Budget airlines have been battling it out for customers across the state, promising budget fares that sometimes seem too good to be true.
But keeping those rock-bottom prices has proven tougher than expected for some airlines, whether it be as a direct effect from the pandemic or the current state of economics.
A Texas-based budget carrier has announced it is officially ceasing operations in California.
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Avelo Airlines is known for its sub-$30 fares, servicing flights to popular destinations like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Portland, and Kalispell, Montana.
All West Coast services are scheduled to conclude by December 2, 2025.
On Monday (14 July), the company revealed plans to close its base at Hollywood Burbank Airport while redirecting resources toward its 38 remaining destinations, mainly located along the East Coast.
'We are in the planning phases of relocating the three planes to the East Coast, so [these are] only positive outcomes for our East Coast airports,' Avelo added.
Avelo's first flight departed Burbank and flew to Northern California in 2021.
"This was not an easy decision," Andrew Levy, CEO of Avelo Airlines, said in a statement. "Our company's deepest operational roots are in BUR, having launched our first flight there over four years ago during the Covid pandemic."
Despite their history, the company determined that their California presence could not withstand the region's competitive market pressures.
Levy added that executives made an 'investment of significant time, resources, and efforts' to make the West Coast routes work, but this didn't deliver 'the results necessary to continue our presence there.'
Meanwhile, Avelo has come under fire from activists and consumers threatening to boycott the airline. In April, Avelo entered into a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to transport migrants to detention facilities within the US and internationally.
In response, organised opposition demonstrations have protesters demanding that Avelo terminate its DHS partnership.
Nancy Klein, a California-native, who allegedly organised seven protests against the company, claims the company's announcement is partially due to the boycotts. "This change in Avelo's business operations is some evidence that being on the right side of history, while being principled and persistent, can make a difference," Klein said.
However, the company maintains that protests did not influence their decision to leave California.
"Protests, nor our contract with DHS, had any effect on our decision and have not impacted our business," a spokesperson at Avelo explained.
Klein has announced plans for an additional protest at Burbank Airport, scheduled for 27 July.