Avelo Airlines Launches $29 Flights to 5 New Cities—See If Your Airport Made the List

Avelo Airlines is abruptly winding down its entire West Coast operation, a move that strands thousands of Bay Area, Oregon and Montana flyers and raises fresh questions about the Houston-based carrier’s long-term strategy. West Coast shutdown dates • Portland / Salem, OR (SLE) — final flight Aug 10 2025 • Sonoma County, CA (STS) and Las Vegas, NV (LAS) — final flight Aug 11 • Kalispell, MT (FCA) — final flight Aug 30 • Redmond/Bend (OR) & Eugene (OR) — final flight Dec 1 • Eureka/Arcata (CA), Pasco (WA), Medford (OR) & Burbank (CA) — final flight Dec 2 Why Avelo is walking away CEO Andrew Levy says West Coast routes no longer “deliver adequate financial returns,” pointing to intense competition at Hollywood Burbank and ballooning operating costs. Aircraft and crews will be redeployed to the East Coast where the airline reports higher load factors and lower airport fees. Voucher backlash Under U.S. DOT rules, customers on flights canceled by the airline are owed cash refunds, yet many travelers report receiving only non-refundable “Avelo Travel Funds.” Consumer advocates warn that those credits will be worthless for passengers who live hours from the nearest remaining Avelo city. The carrier says affected customers must contact its Support Center to request a cash refund if eligible. East-Coast, Caribbean and Key West expansion Even as it retreats out West, Avelo Airlines is doubling down on secondary airports east of the Mississippi. Two weeks ago the company unveiled six new routes, including the carrier’s first international service from Wilmington, NC (ILM) to Freeport, Bahamas, plus new links to Key West and three routes from Charlotte/Concord. New routes launching Oct 22-23 2025 • Wilmington (NC) ⇆ Freeport, Bahamas • Charlotte/Concord (NC) ⇆ San Juan, PR • Charlotte/Concord ⇆ Palm Beach, FL • Charlotte/Concord ⇆ Albany, NY • Key West (FL) ⇆ Greenville-Spartanburg, SC • Key West ⇆ Wilmington, NC What it means for travelers and investors 1. Ticket prices on thin West Coast leisure routes will likely rise as legacy carriers regain monopoly status. 2. East-Coast flyers gain cheap, nonstop access to vacation spots that previously required connections. 3. Avelo’s pivot illustrates the razor-thin margins ultra-low-cost airlines face when fuel spikes and aircraft utilization falls. 4. The airline’s ICE charter contract may provide short-term revenue stability but fuels reputational risk in progressive coastal markets. Bottom line If you hold an Avelo ticket on any West Coast flight beyond August, request a cash refund immediately. For bargain hunters east of the Mississippi, keep an eye on newly added routes—introductory fares have been running as low as $39 one-way.