Avelo Airlines launched service to Florida on Tuesday morning at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wilmington-New Castle Airport (ILG). A chilly February morning that featured the first dusting of snow during an otherwise mild winter, made the case for flying to sunny Florida on the low-fare carrier.
State and local dignitaries and Avelo executives were on hand to commemorate the first flight to Orlando. A no-show was Gov. John Carney, who is staying home after testing positive for Covid-19.
Aviation programs highlighted
Both the University of Delaware and Delaware State University mascots were on hand as Delaware River and Bay Authority Executive Director Thomas Cook highlighted the aviation curriculum at DSU and the newly launched program at Dover’s Polytech. The DRBA manages the Wilmington-New Castle Airport.
Avelo will later commence twice-weekly flights from ILG to Fort Meyers, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.
Avelo will fly to Fort Lauderdale on Thursdays and Sundays; Fort Myers on Mondays and Fridays; Orlando on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays; Tampa on Thursdays and Sundays; and West Palm Beach on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Ticket prices start at $49 one way with extra charges for seat assignments and luggage that can boost that figure to about $100. Discount promotions have also been offered.
According to Stephen Williams, who heads the aviation side of the River and Bay Authority, Feb. 1 marked the first time that nonstops to South Florida will be offered from the airport.
First flights to south Florida
The service to multiple cities could cushion the airline from the lure of a heavy flight schedule to Orlando the home of Disney World and Universal from Philadelphia International Airport.
Williams took note of previous attempts at airline service from ILG but expressed confidence that Avelo has the right approach in focusing on smaller airports with less congestion.
In addition to Frontier, which shifted its focus to nearby Philadelphia under new owners, Delta offered regional jet service aimed at the business market. Last year, Frontier Airlines ended its second attempt at service from Wilmington-New Castle. The low-fare carrier had offered twice-weekly flights to Orlando.
Avelo will face the challenge of convincing area passengers to fly out of Wilmington-New Castle. The Philadelphia airport is located at the south edge of the city and is closer to Wilmington than many other Philly suburbs.
Luring passengers away from Philly
Andrew Levy, founder and CEO of the airline, told the crowd, Avelo is built around underused airports like Wilmington-New Castle that do not have long TSA lines or crowded drop-off points.
Levy had targeted Wilmington-New Castle early on and launched negotiations with the River and Bay Authority. Also assisting was the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, a public-private economic development agency.
The young carrier will base one of its 15 Boeing 737 jets at the Delaware airport, with the possibility of a second in the future. Full and part-time employment has risen to 50.
Avelo is now offering flights to nine cities from New Haven, CT, an airport that previously had no scheduled service. It has a busy schedule at Burbank in the Los Angeles area.
Avelo is focusing on both the East and West coasts with short-haul routes to cities like Wilmington, NC, and Napa Valley, CA. It has not added flights that connect the coasts.
