| aking Avelo Airlines’ first flight from Wilmington-New Castle is now off my bucket list. Even with skepticism influenced by decades of covering the ups and downs of airline service in underserved areas, I came away cautiously optimistic. |
| The airline is basing a flight crew and a 737 jet that will operate from Wilmington-New Castle Airport. The airline already has a significant presence here as it serves five destinations in the Sunshine State, for the most part, a couple of times a week. A quick look at fares indicates you could get back and forth from Florida for about $200, maybe less if you are a part-year resident and don’t have to pack. |
| Frontier’s doomed effort None of this is especially new. Frontier Airlines took a similar approach in its first attempt at service nearly a decade ago. However, a decision to add routes on a haphazard basis and new ownership that brought the Spirit Airlines ultra-low fare strategy and a rekindled love for Philadelphia International Airport doomed Delaware’s chances. During that brief period, I took a Frontier flight with a connection to Phoenix. A second half-baked effort that featured two non-stops a week to Orlando had no chance of success and Frontier exited ILG for a second time last spring. |
| As an aside, a passenger on my row told the tale of having a Frontier flight out of Wilmington-New Castle being canceled a few times before she finally gave up – not exactly a formula for success. |
| Will Avelo meet a similar fate as its predecessors? History has not been kind to most airline startups, but Avelo’s strategy of serving small markets with direct flights increases its odds. |
| President and founder Andrew Levy, who held executive positions with small city-focused Allegiant and industry behemoth United, told Aviation Week, the carrier was profitable in December and has seen success at its Hartford, CT and Burbank, CA. This came despite turbulence that included sky-high fuel prices earlier last year. As a former finance chief for United, Levy will keep an eye on the bottom line. |
| About the flight The boarding area at Wilmington-New Castle is cramped, but passengers on the full flight moved through security without the long lines we see in Philly. The above-mentioned passenger seated in my row was not happy thanks to a replaced knee that resulted in a pat-down due to a lack of screening equipment. And there was yours truly, who went through screening a couple of times after not taking out his keys. The TSA staffer was not amused. |
| Our jet was a trade-in from Southwest with its signature blue leather seats. Those of us who fly that carrier are familiar with the jet which is used on short-haul trips to Chicago, Atlanta, etc. The 737 is a good fit for Avelo, which does not have business class. |
| Unlike Southwest, seats are assigned, with an additional fee for those picking their own spot. There are no frills. Water is complimentary, but on this flight, there were no other beverages or snacks and no WiFi access. As for comfort, the older version of Boeing’s workhorse 737 does not have a lot of legroom. Then again, we’re talking about a two-hour hop. |
| A local flight crew The ILG-based flight crew was friendly and accommodating. Keeping that up in the high-stress world of airlines with frequent fliers and getting to know the crew could be a big competitive advantage. It was encouraging to see that the ramp tractor and baggage carts were brand new, a small sign that Avelo is making critical investments. Avelo now employs about 50 in full and part-time positions here. |
| The flight arrived and departed on time, even with an inspection to see if the 737 needed to be deiced. At Orlando, we were greeted with a water cannon and some nice weather. With a less than an hour turnaround, we quickly boarded the jet for the return trip. A few of us were left wondering if we should have booked a night and enjoyed that 79-degree weather. Reality set in when arriving in Delaware. The airport has no concourse and this time of year it’s a chilly walk to and from the terminal. |
| Fifteen minutes later, I was home. With a quarter of a million people within a 30-minute drive of the airport and millions an hour away, that’s an advantage. Then again, for many, it’s half an hour to Philly. Time will tell whether this feisty start-up will uncover the formula that eluded others. Local airline fans can breathe a little easier on its future if plans for basing a second jet here materialize – Doug Rainey, chief content officer |
