Avelo Airlines, once a carrier in Redding, to do charter deportation flights for ICE
Budget carrier Avelo Airlines, which served Redding before pulling out last year, will start deportation flights for the U.S. government next month.
The company announced it has signed an agreement to provide charter flights for the U.S. Homeland Security's Immigration Control and Enforcement.
The charters will be based at the Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, and Avelo will use three 737-800s to operate the flights, the company said. The 737-800 can seat from 162 to 189 passengers depending on how it is configured.
The twin-engine jet was the same aircraft Avelo flew out of Redding when it was here.
Avelo spokeswoman Madison Jones said the flights are scheduled to start May 12.
'Flights will be both domestic and international to support the Department's deportation efforts,' she wrote in an email.
'With this, Avelo will open a base at AZA with Avelo pilots, flight attendants and aircraft technicians, as well as appropriate local leaders. We expect to begin hiring locally for these positions immediately. Current Avelo Crewmembers (employees) will have the first option to transfer to our new AZA base,' she added.
In a statement, Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy said:
'We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come.'
At least one community where Avelo serves is concerned about the news.
'Avelo Airlines' decision to charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona is deeply disappointing and disturbing," New Haven (Connecticut) Mayor Justin Elicker stated in The Wilton Bulletin.
Avelo arrived in Redding in May 2021 when it started flights to Hollywood Burbank. In January 2022, the carrier expanded here with flights to Las Vegas.
But Avelo's Las Vegas service in Redding was short-lived as it discontinued the flights in late 2022.
Last August, Avelo completely pulled out of Redding when it stopped its service to Hollywood Burbank. The airline left because Trego Dugan, which provided ground service for Avelo, decided to leave Redding.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He's part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Avelo Airlines to provide deportation flights for ICE in May
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