Avelo Airlines to Shut Burbank Base Amid Deportation Backlash

Avelo Airlines is set to close its base at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) by December 2, marking the end of a four-year West Coast operation. The low-cost carrier, which launched its inaugural flight from Burbank in April 2021, says the decision was driven by difficult market conditions and inadequate financial performance in the region.

CEO Andrew Levy acknowledged the emotional weight of the move, saying, “This was not an easy decision. Our company’s deepest operational roots are in BUR, having launched our first flight there over four years ago during the COVID pandemic.” However, the airline concluded that continued operations from Burbank would not yield the financial returns required to justify the presence, especially in a highly competitive market.

Avelo’s retreat from Burbank signals a strategic shift toward East Coast growth and international expansion. Service at BUR will begin tapering off on August 12, with a full exit by early December. At its height in July 2021, Avelo operated 49 weekly flights to 11 destinations from the airport, accounting for over 13% of BUR’s seat capacity. By mid-July 2025, that share had dwindled to 4%, with just 25 weekly flights to eight destinations.

This move comes as Avelo pivots attention to its East Coast bases in New Haven, Connecticut, and Wilmington, Delaware. The airline has also launched international routes from Hartford, Connecticut, starting with service to Montego Bay, Jamaica, in November 2024, and has since added flights to Cancun, Punta Cana and San Juan.

Despite its East Coast momentum, Avelo has also scaled back some plans, including reducing routes from North Carolina’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport. It has also drawn scrutiny from immigration rights groups for chartering flights on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport migrants.

Avelo operates a fleet of 21 Boeing 737 aircraft, including eight 737-700s and thirteen 737-800s, according to CAPA’s Fleet Database. While the airline remains committed to its low-cost model, its exit from Burbank underscores the evolving challenges in balancing network growth with profitability in competitive markets.

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