By Winston Shek
Avelo Airlines Cuts Flights to Two Destinations From Burbank
On Thursday, Avelo Airlines quietly removed two destinations from its route map and Burbank route network, namely Monterey, Cali. and St. George, Utah. Previously scheduled to launch on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, respectively, the Houston-based carrier announced these routes in late July, increasing its winter route portfolio from Burbank to twelve destinations.
In a statement to The Points Guy, the airline verified the move, blaming it on the COVID-19 delta variant, causing higher case counts, stating, “Like all airlines, we’re adjusting accordingly to the current demand climate.” However, Avelo Airlines plans to reevaluate its decision in the future, adding, “We will take another look at our plans for these two markets next spring.”
If these routes had started, Avelo Airlines would face its only competition on its flight to Monterey on Thursdays, when JSX offers a competing service from Burbank to Monterey. JSX flies a four- times weekly service from Monterey to Burbank, using its Embraer regional jet aircraft, seating 30 passengers.
Frequency-wise, Avelo Airlines would’ve operated two times weekly on both flights, utilizing the carrier’s Boeing 737-800, showcasing 189 economy seats.
For Avelo, flights to Monterey would’ve provided a gateway to the Central Coast of California, in addition to an hour hop to San Jose, Cali. Meanwhile, flights to St. George would’ve served natural wonders in Southern Utah, including Zion National Park.
In addition to dropping flights to St. George, Utah and Monterey, Cali., Avelo Airlines intends to postpone the launch of its flight to Provo, Utah, from Sept. 17 to Nov. 15, adjusting its route network. However, its upcoming ventures to Fort Collins/Loveland, Colo. and a flight from Santa Rosa/Sonoma, Cali. to Las Vegas remain unaffected.
Similarly, in July, Avelo Airlines dropped three destinations from its route network, terminating flights to Grand Junction, Colorado in August, and ending flights to Bozeman, Montana and Mesa/Phoenix, Ariz. in September. Furthermore, the low-cost carrier fine-tuned its schedule too many of its initial markets, cutting frequencies to points like Ogden, Utah and Medford, Oregon.
Per a statement from ThePointsGuy, at the time, “The airline business comes down to flying when and where our customers want to go – safely, comfortably and at the right price. Just like every other airline, we will continuously adjust our schedule – adding and removing capacity to match customer demand, preferences, and seasonal travel shifts. As part of our schedule extension through January 2022, we’ve made several adjustments to better align with when and where our customers want to fly.”
However, according to the low-cost carrier, all of these flights have a chance to return for the summer of 2022. By the summer of 2022, Avelo Airlines will receive an additional two Boeing 737-800s for its operations in Burbank, allowing it to expand its operation from Burbank, the secondary Los Angeles area airport.
Last week, the Houston-based carrier announced its latest endeavor via a four-route expansion from its first base on the east coast, New Haven, Conn. To four destinations in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa, Avelo plans to draw demand away from airports in the New York area and Hartford, Conn., capturing demand from the Southern Connecticut area.
Avelo Airlines is planning a heavy capital investment into its east coast base, renovating and rehabilitating facilities in New Haven. Specifically, the airline intends to invest $1.2 million into New Haven, employing 100 individuals for its crewmembers positions.
Avelo Airlines is one of the newest airline startups in the United States, amid other fledgling startups like ExpressJet, Breeze Airways and GlobalX Airlines. The Houston-based carrier launched its first base in Burbank, Cali. on Apr. 28, 2021, to eleven destinations in the Western United States.
Ever since Winston was a toddler, he has always had a fascination for airplanes.From watching widebodies land at Washington Dulles to traveling the world, Winston has always had his eyes towards the skies.Winston began aviation photography in 2018 and now posts his photos occasionally on his Instagram account.He previously wrote for a blog.In his free time, Winston loves to play chess, do recreational activities, and watch sports.Looking into the future, Winston plans to service the aviation industry.
