Low-cost airline Avelo has signed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
The airline, which also operates out of 10 Florida airports, Including Palm Beach International Airport, will carry out deportation flights under a charter agreement with Homeland Security.
All the deportation flights will be out of Arizona.
Here’s what to know.
Avelo Airlines to carry out deportation flights for ICE
The agreement with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement means Avelo will carry out deportation flights.
The flights will be operated by three Boeing 737-800 aircraft based at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona and will begin on May 12.
The airline plans to open a crew base at the airport to support the deportation operations and is hiring flight attendants and aircraft technicians to work and service the charters.
‘Sensitive and complicated topic’: Avelo CEO says deportation flights will provide stability
“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come,” Avelo’s founder and CEO, Andrew Levy, said in a statement.
Levy told the Associated Press the flights will be part of a “long-term charter program” to support ICE’s deportation efforts. The company decided the move would help with expansion and protect jobs, he said.
In an online job listing for the Arizona operation, Avelo said the “flights will be both domestic and international trips to support DHS’s deportation efforts.”
‘Stop ICE flights!’ Petition circulating to boycott Avelo
A petition was launched by the New Haven Immigrant Heritage Coalition, and as of noon Wednesday, it has just under 7,000 signatures on change.org.
“We demand that AVELO AIR halt plans to carry out deportation flights in cooperation with the Trump Administration.
“We pledge to boycott the airline until they stop plans to profit off ICE flights that are tearing families and communities apart and removing some legal residents,” the online petition reads.
What other airlines operate deportation flights?
The Associated Press reported that the deal between Avelo and DHS/ICE appears to be the only current contract for full aircraft deportation flights with a regular, scheduled commercial airline.
Are any deportations done on commercial airlines with paying passengers?
Sometimes.
According to ICE, some deportations are carried out on commercial flights, but large-scale deportation efforts rely more heavily on chartered aircraft that do not simultaneously fly paying passengers.
Is Avelo a low-cost airline?
Yes, Avelo Airlines calls itself an “ultra-low cost airline.” It’s headquartered in Houston, Texas, and was founded in 2021.
“We fly out of smaller, more convenient airports, so we also save you time and hassle,” Avelo’s website said..
It flies to locations across the U.S., as well as the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
“Our affordable nonstop flights into smaller, convenient airports let you spend less time at the terminal and more time exploring hidden gems, national parks, and vibrant cityscapes,” its website said.
Lakeland International is Avelo’s Central Florida base
“LAL will serve as Avelo’s Central Florida base, operating dual operations at LAL as an extension of its existing operations at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Avelo will initially base one aircraft at LAL,” the company said in July 2024.
“This expansion enables Avelo to significantly expand its affordable, convenient and reliable air service in Central Florida.”
Avelo began operating in Daytona Beach on June 22, 2023.
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Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS)
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Fort Lauderdale/Miami (FLL)
➤ See a complete list of all Avelo airports
Where does Avelo fly out of Palm Beach County?
Avelo Airlines now offers nonstop service from Palm Beach International Airport to New Haven, Connecticut, and Philadelphia/Wilmington, Delaware.
Where does Avelo fly out of Florida?
According to its website, Avelo flies from Florida airports to:
Where is Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona?
Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona is located about 120 miles north of the Mexico border and about 80 miles north-northwest of Tucson. It’s about 1,600 miles west of Tallahassee.
According to the Center for Immigration Assistance, there are six ICE immigration detention and processing facilities in Arizona.
What types of planes does Avelo Airlines have in its fleet?
Avelo Airlines has a fleet of 20 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft.
The Boeing 737-700 has 149 seats, with 44 “extra leg room seats.”
The 737-800 has 189 seats, with 57 “extra leg room seats.”
How do you pronounce Avelo?
Pronounce Avelo as UH-VELL-O, like yellow or Jell-O.
Contributors: Zach Wichter, USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Avelo which flies out of West Palm Beach to do ICE deportation flights
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