Avelo Airways iheld a flash sale for those who want a February getaway to Florida.
Under the fare promotion which expired Monday night on Dec. 26, passengers received 50% discount by using the promo code SANTA after logging into the airline’s website
Under the promotion, passengers had to travel between Feb. 1 and Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Avelo launches flights to five Florida cities, beginning Feb. 1. The flights are typically twice weekly, with Orlando service occurring three times a week.
The half-off discount only covered fares that start at $39 one-way but did not cover fees, such as seat assignments and luggage charges.
The fees can add $60 or more to a one-way fare. Baggage fees paid in advance of the flight are less expensive.
Avelo offers flights to the East and West coats, with no connections between the two.
It faces competition in some aeras from another new carrier, Breeze, which has employed a similar strategy of serving smaller cities and avoiding hubs like Philadelphia. Breeze is planning transcontinental srevice from East Coast points
On the East Coast, Breeze set up a focus city/hub in Hartford, CT, with Avelo doing the same in New Haven, CT. Avelo does not offer service from Wilmington to New Haven. That route would give Delaware travelers flights to southern New England.
Avelo will base a Boeing 737 jet in Wilmington as it works to build traffic in a market that has seen the entry and exit of start-ups and established carriers over the years.
Earlier this year, Frontier Airlines dropped twice-weekly nonstop service from Wilmington to Orlando. The carrier, which also uses low base fares with fees for other services, has become the second-largest carrier operating out of Philadelphia International Airport.
American is the dominant carrier at the PHL but has been cutting service to some destination due to flight crew shortages and reports that the Philadelphia hub is said to be less profitable than its other Eastern stronghold in Charlotte.
Charlotte is more of a “fortress hub” than Philadelphia, with other carriers less willing to take on the world’s largest airline when measured by the number of aircraft. Discount carriers Frontier and Spirit have built up their flight schedules from Philadephia, leading to competition for flights to popular destinations in Florida.
Correction: A previous version incorrectly listed an a.m. time for the expiration and taxes are included in the base fare.
