US budget carrier Avelo Airlines has just commenced its first international route, flying from Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, Connecticut to Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The new route is seen as an important milestone for both the airline itself as well as the tourism industry in both Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region.
The first flight on the route operated on November 16, 2024, and was flown by one of Avelo’s 12-strong fleet of Boeing 737-800s registered N808VL. The inaugural flight (XP902) took three hours and 23 minutes to complete the 1,644-mile (2,630km) route. There were 150 passengers plus six crew on the inaugural flight which arrived at Montego Bay at 10:11 local time to a traditional water cannon salute.
The inaugural flight ceremony at Sangster International Airport featured traditional Jamaican cultural performances, which showcased the island’s heritage. The event was attended by government officials, tourism stakeholders, and aviation leaders in Jamaica and the US. Audrey Marks, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the US, also attended to highlight the route’s significance for the Jamaican diaspora in Connecticut and the surrounding areas.
Avelo’s new twice-weekly service will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout winter 2024/25 and aims to make Jamaica more accessible to a wider range of customers. Avelo hopes that the new flights will attract travelers from Windsor and surrounding areas in Connecticut, many of which have strong cultural and familial ties to Jamaica.
“We are grateful to be creating history for Avelo as Montego Bay has become our first international destination and we are very proud to be landing in Jamaica,” said Giselle Cortes, Head of Airports at Avelo Airlines. “At Avelo, we have a saying which is ‘one crew’ while Jamaica has a saying of ‘one love’. Both one crew and one love have come together and landed on this beautiful island.”
“This new service between Montego Bay and Hartford not only strengthens our connection with the vibrant Jamaican diaspora in Connecticut but also opens up exciting opportunities for leisure travelers from New England to experience Jamaica’s warm hospitality, rich culture, and world-class attractions,” added Donovan White, Director of Tourism for Jamaica.
Meanwhile, speaking with the Jamaica Observer, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, emphasized the importance of this new route in bolstering visitor numbers from the US. He also highlighted how this new route would facilitate travel for New England residents, create new job opportunities, and increase economic activities.
The new route comes as Houston-based Avelo embarks on its next phase of expansion, the largest in its history since it first started operations in April 2021. The carrier is to launch a total of seven new routes from Bradley International Airport during winter 2024/25 with the airline due to begin services to Cancun in Mexico starting on November 20, 2024.
Alongside its 12 189-seat Boeing 737-800s, the carrier also operates eight 147-seat Boeing 737-700s. The airline currently flies 76 routes, serving 47 destinations across the US, as well as now Jamaica and shortly, Mexico. The carrier maintains bases at Bay Area/Sonoma (STS), Los Angeles/Burbank (BUR), Hartford (BDL), New Haven (HVN), Philadelphia-Wilmington (ILG), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Orlando (MCO), and Lakeland (LAL).