Avelo Airlines Ceases Deportation Flights for ICE

Avelo Airlines, renowned for its budget-friendly offerings, announced it will cease operations for deportation flights as part of efforts with the Department of Homeland Security. This marks the end of a contractual agreement aiding U.S. immigration enforcement.

Established in 2021 and based in Houston, Avelo cited insufficient financial gains from involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Consequently, the airline plans to shut down its operations at Mesa Gateway Airport in Phoenix, where these flights were coordinated.

An Avelo representative confirmed the closure of its Mesa hub by the end of January. They added that while the program brought temporary advantages, it ultimately failed to provide enough steady income to counter its operational complexities and expenses.

Avelo boasts affordable services to many destinations, including the Caribbean, and operates from four major U.S. hubs, with plans to launch a fifth in Dallas by 2026.

The airline's role involved a subcontract through CSI Aviation to supply ICE with air services. ICE's primary contractors, including GlobalX, continue to manage the bulk of these deportation flights, representing about 70% of operations.

The Department of Homeland Security pointed out that their agreement was not directly with Avelo but through a service provider. They emphasize ongoing collaborations with multiple airlines to fulfill deportation mandates.

Earlier in the year, Andrew Levy, Avelo's founder and CEO, anticipated that participating in deportation flights could drive growth, acknowledging the challenges posed by the sensitive nature of these missions.

Avelo's involvement with ICE has drawn significant public opposition and rallies, particularly regarding their charter flights from Mesa.

Indivisible Project, an advocacy group, welcomed the news of Avelo ending its DHS contract. They highlighted ongoing community efforts which led to reduced sales and flight cancellations that pressured Avelo to reconsider its stance.

Ezra Levin, co-director of Indivisible, noted the collective protests across the nation against deportation flights, commending Avelo's decision to focus away from operations negatively impacting immigrant communities and their own business.