Avelo Airlines
, a US ultra-low-cost carrier that burst on the scene just a few years ago operating leisure-oriented services to destinations across the nation, is looking to continue building out its network and has put into place some bold expansion plans for the fall of 2024. Specifically, the airline is drastically ramping up its operations in the state of Connecticut, attempting to capitalize on a unique point-to-point desert seemingly abandoned by full-service network carriers based elsewhere.
The airline has two major operating bases within the state of Connecticut, at Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks and Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (HVN). These two airports have several nonstop flights to leisure destinations across the Caribbean and the American Southeast, with relatively limited service from the legacy airlines that traditionally provide passenger service.
Photo: EdgardoS80 | Shutterstock
Avelo is making big moves in the state of Connecticut
Avelo Airlines is betting big on this Connecticut market, and the carrier continues to double down on its confidence in its network out of the area, despite increased competition from other budget airlines. Carriers that also operate low-cost flights from the region include Breeze Airways, Southwest Airlines, and Frontier Airlines, all of which have a presence within the state.
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
Nonetheless, Avelo’s drastic expansion in the region does tell us something interesting about this dynamic leisure travel market. Let’s take a deeper look at the airline’s presence and growth in the Connecticut area and examine what we might see from the airline in the coming years.
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Avelo Airlines operates Boeing 737 family aircraft.
An extremely unique air market
The state of Connecticut sits in a rather unique position, stuck between the Boston and New York City metropolitan areas, each of which has major international airports that are home to legacy airline hubs. The facility at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is home to a Delta Air Lines hub, which makes it extremely easy to travel to several global destinations.
In the New York City area, both Delta and American Airlines operate hubs at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), while United Airlines operates its principal hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) across the river in New Jersey. These three facilities collectively provide nonstop flights to dozens of global destinations, something that the relatively small airports in Connecticut lack.
As a result, Connecticut is trapped in somewhat of a middle ground between these two different air markets, as it does not produce enough demand to encourage a major airline (which focuses primarily on business travel) to set up shop in the region. As a result, the airports in Connecticut have historically lacked connectivity, although there would likely be strong local demand for this kind of travel.
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
With a handful of large universities located in its central urban corridor, both Bradley International Airport and New Haven Airport have a strong base of budget-conscious leisure-oriented travelers, making them ideal markets for low-cost carriers. The former of these airports is also fairly well-positioned geographically to capture demand from travelers in the Springfield, Massachusetts urban corridor that includes the college towns of Amherst and Northampton.
Low-cost airlines identified this potential and have set up shop
Two different low-cost carriers entered the market at roughly the same time (in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic), and they had similar strategies when it came to network expansion. Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways have both pursued an extensive hub-busting strategy, one in which they attempt to fly from underserved markets, those that have failed to generate enough demand for legacy airlines.
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
While JetBlue, Southwest, and some other low-fare carriers do operate flights from Bradley International, Avelo is the only airline operating flights from New Haven, while Breeze has a major operating base at T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) in nearby Providence, Rhode Island. Here is a closer look at these competing airlines’ current operations from these two Connecticut airports:
|
Airport: |
Breeze Airways number of destinations served: |
Avelo Airlines number of destinations served: |
|---|---|---|
|
Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (HVN) |
N/A |
|
|
Bradley International Airport (BDL) |
|
|
Both carriers are also continuing to expand their operational offerings in the region. Avelo Airlines recently launched its largest-ever expansion in the region, with 18 new nonstop flights from the area to leisure destinations across the country, according to Patch. While most of these flights have started as of writing, two international destinations, Cancun International Airport (CUN) and Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Jamaica, will see new nonstop services starting this weekend.
So what can we expect in the coming years?
Breeze Airways is no stranger to the success of Avelo’s New Haven hub over the past few years, during which it has enjoyed a monopoly on the student-rich low-cost market in the area. Starting in December and continuing through February, the low-cost airline will be launching nine new routes from Tweed Airport, which will offer nonstop connections to destinations from Virginia to Florida in the American Southeast.
Photo: Angel DiBilio l Shutterstock
Next year, we will get our best picture of how these two new low-cost carriers, which are mostly in a class of their own, compete with each other in the same market. Customers will be sure to enjoy lower prices due to the additional competition for passenger traffic.
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These facilities all serve as bases for the young carrier.
Nonetheless, Avelo Airlines has a plan to maintain its loyal customer base in Connecticut, despite any competitive challenges. The airline will continue to try and offer passengers the most affordable flights. Furthermore, the airline will continue to market itself as ideal for college students in the region, with the airline being a major partner of the University of Connecticut’s athletics programs since 2022, according to the Avelo website.