Phoenix โ A budget airline predominantly operating in smaller U.S. cities initiated federal deportation flights from Arizona this week. The move prompted an online petition advocating for a boycott and drew sharp criticism from the airlineโs flight attendantsโ union.
In April, Avelo Airlines disclosed it had reached an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to operate charter deportation flights departing from Mesa Gateway Airport, located near Phoenix. The airline, based in Houston, Texas, plans to utilize three Boeing 737-800 aircraft for these flights.
Avelo is one of several companies capitalizing on the heightened deportation efforts championed by President Donald Trump. Recent congressional discussions have focused on a tax bill intended, in part, to fund the annual removal of 1 million immigrants and house 100,000 individuals in detention centers across the U.S. The Republican plan also proposes the recruitment of an additional 10,000 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators.
Despite these developments, financial and operational particulars of Aveloโs agreement with ICE remain undisclosed. Requests to access the agreement were declined by both Avelo and ICE, citing confidentiality restrictions.
Since its inception in 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Avelo has aimed to cut costs by flying older Boeing 737 models acquired at lower prices and operating from less congested secondary airports. This business strategy has enabled the budget airline to pursue routes largely ignored by larger carriers, helping the company achieve its first profitable quarter in late 2023.
Andrew Levy, Aveloโs CEO and founder, defended the decision to work with ICE, citing expansion and job preservation as key motivations. However, he acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding the controversial partnership.
Associated consumer backlash has been notable, with brands typically distancing themselves from deportation-related activities due to public sentiment. This is not the first instance, as during Trumpโs initial term, several hotel chains resisted housing migrant children apprehended by authorities.
Aveloโs involvement in deportation flights has been met with protest. In New Haven, Connecticut, Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker urged the airline to reassess its stance, describing it as contradictory to the communityโs values.
Protests took place in both Arizona and Connecticut, with demonstrators voicing their opposition. At Mesa, around 30 protestors gathered, displaying signs condemning the deportation flights. Meanwhile, about 150 individuals in Connecticut urged travelers to boycott Avelo.
John Jairo Lugo, involved with New Havenโs organization Unidad Latina en Acciรณn, emphasized the economic impact they hope to exert on Avelo in order to encourage the airline to withdraw from its government affiliation.
Mesa stands as one of five operational hubs for ICE Air, the deportation logistics branch of the immigration agency. According to Witness at the Border, ICE Air executed approximately 8,000 flights over a recent 12-month span.
ICE primarily collaborates with an air brokerage, CSI Aviation, which then contracts charter carriers for deportation flights. The current practice has generally involved charter โ rather than retail โ carriers, thus making Aveloโs participation as a commercial entity unusual.
While Avelo has yet to operate regular passenger flights from Mesa Gateway Airport, its route network spans over 50 U.S. locations and destinations in Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Despite achieving a profitable quarter in February 2024, Avelo has not disclosed specific financial metrics, as it remains privately held.