Avelo Airlines Shuts West Coast Bases, Moves East
Avelo Airlines, which launched in 2021 promising low fares from smaller California airports, is abandoning the very region where it began. The ultra-low-cost carrier confirmed it will end all West Coast operations by early December 2025 and permanently close its Burbank headquarters. Customers searching for flights beyond that date are finding no availability, and company emails have confirmed the shutdown.
The retreat marks a dramatic reversal for an airline that built its identity around underserved routes from airports such as Burbank, Santa Rosa, and Redding. Avelo had pitched itself as a disruptive alternative to legacy carriers, offering a “new kind of convenience” for budget-conscious travelers across California.
Industry analysts point to rising labor and airport costs, increased competition from larger airlines, and a post-pandemic shift in consumer demand as major factors in Avelo’s pullback. The carrier has also attracted controversy in recent months over its participation in government deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which some observers say may have eroded goodwill in liberal-leaning West Coast markets.
The airline is now doubling down on the East Coast, where it has been rapidly expanding at New Haven, Wilmington, and Raleigh-Durham airports. Avelo hopes a leaner cost structure and less crowded markets will help it rebuild momentum.
Whether this pivot signals a nimble strategy or the start of a larger retrenchment remains unclear. For travelers in California and the Pacific Northwest, however, Avelo’s exit means one fewer ultra-low-cost option and a reminder of how tough regional air service can be to sustain.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=Avelo+Airlines, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com