Avelo Airlines began service out of its newest crew base in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, meaning all 50 U.S. states once again have commercial flights.
The airline flew from Wilmington Airport to Orlando International Airport to mark the occasion. Andrew Levy, Avelo’s chairman and CEO, joined customers for the trip and presented them with a celebratory boarding pass.
Avelo will serve Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach with its fleet of Boeing 737 jets.
“Nobody in recent memory has flown anywhere other than Orlando (from Wilmington),” Levy told USA TODAY in an interview ahead of the launch. “We’re flying to Orlando, but we’re also flying to four other places that have never had service from that airport.”
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Where will Avelo Airlines fly from Delaware?
As Levy said, Avelo Airlines will serve five Florida destinations from Wilmington, though none are currently planned to have daily service. Here’s when the flights to different destinations will operate:
- Fort Lauderdale: Thursdays and Sundays
- Fort Myers: Mondays and Fridays
- Orlando: Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays
- Tampa: Thursdays and Sundays
- West Palm Beach: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Promotional $49 tickets are still available on certain days for all of the new routes, and Levy told USA TODAY that advanced sales have been promising so far.
“We expect this market to take time to develop just like every thing else that you start, but we believe it’s going to start off pretty strong,” he said.
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What sets Avelo Airlines apart in Delaware?
Other airlines have come and gone from Wilmington Airport, but Levy said he believes Avelo is well-positioned to maintain service there for the long-term.
A big challenge, he acknowledged, is the proximity of Philadelphia International Airport just north on Interstate 95. But, he said, he’s optimistic Avelo will be able to stimulate enough demand to make that a non-issue.
“This is the airport we care deeply about,” he said, adding that he believes customers will be attracted to the convenience of using a smaller airport.
For comparison, he noted that Burbank and Los Angeles International Airport in California are close to one another, and Burbank remains popular with travelers.
The airline launched in grand fashion Wednesday, with festivities that included an airport ramp color guard ceremony from the Delaware Air National Guard and the Transportation Security Administration.
“We’re excited that Avelo Airlines has chosen to bring its low-fare, quality service to the residents and visitors to the Delaware Valley region,” Thomas J. Cook, executive director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which operates the airport, said in a news release. “If you’re looking to avoid the hassles of a big city airport, Wilmington Airport is for you.”
Story Credit: usatoday.com