Avelo Airlines will open its sixth U.S. base in Las Vegas in September. The carrier made the announcement on the same day it began adding eight new destinations from Wilmington Airport (ILG), also a base for the discount carrier.
Avelo, which has operated nonstop service between Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport and California’s Napa Valley wine country since September 2021, will add four new nonstop destinations from Las Vegas Bend/Redmond, OR; Brownsville, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa and Eureka/Arcata, CA. Avelo will be the only airline flying nonstop between Las Vegas and the five destinations.
Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, “As the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas is a winning bet for our sixth U.S. base. We are excited about the exclusive nonstop access to Vegas Avelo’s new base will offer our customers from these five communities and more in the future. Vegas has something for everyone and Avelo’s affordability, convenience and reliability will make getting to this popular destination easier than ever.”
Levy was a cofounder and served as longtime president of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air. At Avelo, Levy was joined by other former Allegiant leaders, including Chief Operating Officer Greg Baden.
Las Vegas will follow Avelo’s formula of basing one of its 15 jets at the airport and operating nonstops a couple of days a week. The exception will be four days a week for the Napa flights. The airline also stations flight crews at bases, like Wilmington and Las Vegas. Delaware employment is approaching 100.
Avelo offers low base fares and no connecting flights, a feature that aids on-time performance and cuts chances of lost luggage. Flights are typically scheduled for passengers seeking weekend getaways. Avelo also points out that competitors serving some of its destinations often use small regional jets.
There are no immediate plans to add Las Vegas to the flight schedule from Wimington (ILG). With only 15 jets, long distance flights would mark a departure from its current strategy of serving destinations with two-hour flight times.
Las Vegas flights might also touch off a fare war in Philadelphia from carriers like American, Frontier and Spirit. All three offer nonstops to that destination.
