Latest news with #Avelo
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Protesters gather at Tweed to protest Avelo deportation flights
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Tweed New Haven Airport was the site of another protest against Avelo airlines on Saturday. Protesters gathered to speak out against the airline's decision to provide deportation flights for the Department of Homeland Security. Over 100 at Tweed protest Avelo's deportation flight While no deportation flights have arrived or departed from New Haven, protesters believe it is a matter of human rights. 'We know that people are being flown in five-point shackles, right?' said Ben Scudder, a high school teacher in New Haven. 'That's wrist, waist, ankles. We know that flight attendants have been told not to make eye contact with them, to further dehumanize these people.' The airline released the following statement. 'We recognize the right of individuals to peacefully assemble, and Avelo's main priority will continue to be maintaining the safety and timeliness of our operation.' Tweed New Haven Airport is Avelo's primary airport. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Budget airlines contributing to passenger boom at NYC-area regional airports
Traffic is really taking off at two regional airports north of New York City. Budget airlines are powering the growth in passengers. On a random Tuesday afternoon, Westchester County Airport was a busy place. Frequent flier Jill Forrester said she has noticed a big increase in passenger volume. "I have. The waiting room is always packed. There's not a lot of places to sit down. That's why we're up here in the observation tower. It's just a little bit quieter," Forrester said. Read more: Newark Airport experiences another air traffic control outage Why the boom in passengers at regional airports Airport statistics show Westchester County handled 1.5 million passengers in 2017, but in 2024 that increased to 2.3 million. At Tweed Airport in New Haven, a Hearst Connecticut Media study found passenger traffic is up tenfold since 2019. With traffic way up, Tweed is looking at a big expansion, more than doubling the current terminal space. At both airports, traffic is rising since the debut of service by budget airlines such as Avelo and Breeze. "Avelo and Breeze have built routes out of Westchester and Tweed airports to places that people want to go, mostly leisure-focused destinations, and they are charging fares that are potentially more reasonably priced than some of the other airlines that have served those cities," travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said. Asked for comment about passenger volume, Westchester County, which is always sensitive to complaints about airport noise, provided a statement from spokeswoman Catherine Cioffi. "While more passengers are moving through HPN, the number of enplanements hasn't increased dramatically. What we are seeing in 2025 is a shift toward larger, more efficient and quieter aircraft, meaning more people per flight, not more flights overall. This is not a surge in air traffic. This is simply smarter, more streamlined air travel. The number of planes in the sky remains stable," Cioffi said. "That said, anyone who has been to the HPN terminal knows it's time for an upgrade, which is why the county issued a Request for Proposals to modernize the terminal at Westchester County Airport. Our objective is to identify a consultant who will work closely with the county to develop distinct design concepts for consideration. Each will focus on enhancing the overall airport experience for passengers. This is not expansion. It's about being able to offer essentials: a seat, a cup of coffee and a bathroom. We are committed to a transparent and competitive process that puts the needs of our residents and travelers first. It's also worth noting that commercial flights make up only about 30% of total takeoffs at HPN," Cioffi added. There is a drawback to the regional airports, analyst says The budget airline destinations include smaller markets in Florida and hotspots such as Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina, but with limited schedules compared to major airlines Harteveldt says budget travelers need to be aware. "If your flights are delayed or cancelled, your options are going to be limited to get you to your destination, whether you are on your way to a vacation or on your way back home," Harteveldt said. Breeze is expanding aggressively in the region, also adding service at MacArthur Airport on Long Island and Stewart Airport in Orange County.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NH lawmaker sues Avelo over ICE deportation flights, First Amendment rights
A Democratic state representative from Dover is suing Avelo Airlines after the carrier agreed to operate U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights on behalf of the Trump administration. After Rep. Seth Miller started a campaign to boycott the airline and paid for billboards to go up outside a Connecticut airport urging travelers to 'Just say AvelNO!' the company sent him a cease-and-desist letter threatening thousands of dollars in fines if they were not taken down. After the advertising company Miller paid to display the billboards took them down, he filed a lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights were violated. 'Avelo is free to disagree with Miller, to criticize him, and to advocate its position to the public,' the lawsuit states. 'It is free to call Miller a naif, a fool, or worse. But it is not free to use baseless threats of litigation to suppress Miller's criticism.' After Avelo agreed to operate ICE deportation flights (which have already begun, the company said), Miller started a campaign to boycott the airline, which offers flights from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to the Carolinas. Just arrived Ground crew members prepare to unload Avelo's inaugural flight from Raleigh-Durham to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in June 2023. Miller, who represents Strafford District 21 in the House, raised enough money — $6,000 — to pay for two billboards to go up in New Haven, Connecticut, a busy hub for the airline, including one adjacent to the Tweed-New Haven Airport. Court documents show the billboards contain an altered image of a tail of an Avelo plane and say, 'Does your vacation support their deportation? Just say AvelNO!' Avelo sent Miller a cease-and-desist letter four days after the billboards first appeared, claiming trademark and copyright infringement and demanding the billboards be removed or else he could face up to $150,000 in fines. In response, Miller filed a lawsuit this week in federal court in Nevada against Avelo (where the airline is incorporated) claiming the messaging on the billboards is protected free speech and doesn't infringe on trademarks. Court documents show a letter was also sent by Avelo's lawyers to Lamar Advertising, the company Miller paid for the billboards, 'threatening them with liability.' The billboards were taken down by Lamar Advertising shortly after receiving the letter. In the letter to Miller, Avelo writes, 'Given your clear familiarity with Avelo and its trademarks, the blatant use of our client's trademarks and trade dress with 'The AvelNo! campaign' and associated websites, billboards, and marketing material, constitutes deliberate and willful trademark infringement and unfair competition.' 'The billboard display outside the Tweed-New Haven airport is a deliberate attempt to interfere with Avelo's air transportation services because, as you are undoubtedly aware, New Haven is Avelo's hub for east coast flights,' the letter states. 'Thus, the appropriation of the AVELO house mark and targeting of Avelo's customers directly affects our client's ability to offer and render its services to current and prospective consumers. 'We have already been notified of instances of actual confusion wherein consumers have mistakenly believed that the billboard is sponsored or affiliated with Avelo, demonstrating that confusion is not only likely but inevitable.' The lawsuit asks the court to declare Miller hasn't violated Avelo's copyright and trademark, and allow the public to continue seeing Miller's messaging as protected free speech. 'Miller's speech cannot possibly infringe Avelo's marks because it is entitled to protection under the Rogers First Amendment test — Miller's speech does not function as a trademark, it clearly mocks Avelo's trademark, and it is therefore paradigmatic protected speech,' the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit goes on to say Miller's speech 'could not possibly have confused any reasonable person about the source of airline passenger service.' A spokesperson for Avelo on Friday said the airline had no comment on the lawsuit. 'Avelo's main priority will continue to be maintaining the safety and timeliness of our operation for our customers,' the spokesperson said in an email. A request for comment from ICE was not immediately returned Friday.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New airline takes flight at Ford Airport with $49 nonstop trip to North Carolina
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A new airline has been added to Gerald R. Ford International Airport's offerings. Avelo Airlines on Friday announced it is now flying out of the Ford Airport, beginning with a twice-weekly direct flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina. In June, Avelo will also add a route to Lakeland International Airport in Florida. Both flights will fly out on Mondays and Fridays. Avelo is offering one-way fares from Grand Rapids to North Carolina for $49, but with some caveats: That price is available for flights between Sept. 5 and Sept. 29, and it must be booked by May 30. Still, one-way fares currently appearing on the website range from $39 to $119. Allegiant offers $42 rates for two new nonstop flights from Ford Airport 'We're excited to welcome Avelo Airlines,' Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson said in a release. 'These routes give West Michigan travelers convenient access to Raleigh-Durham's thriving tech and research triangle, and to the sunshine and family-friendly attractions of Central Florida.' Ford Airport has been touting its direct flight options as it works to add more. It currently has direct flights to almost 40 destinations, including both seasonal and year-round flights. Allegiant Air on Thursday added a nonstop flight to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and on Friday added a nonstop flight to Jacksonville, Florida. Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines announced it is adding a nonstop flight to Orlando starting in December. The airport has also been working to add a federal inspection station, which will make way for international direct flights, like a potential nonstop flight to Cancun. GR direct to Cancun? What it takes to add a new nonstop flight The airport, which saw a record-breaking 4.17 million passengers in 2024, is in the midst of a major $600 million project called Elevate. Crews are building a consolidated car rental facility and working on the terminal enhancement project, which will relocate ticket counters. The air traffic control tower is set to be relocated and a new parking garage is set to be built. In 2023, the airport opened a newly expanded Concourse A. Other recent additions include an indoor animal relief area and a sensory room, along with several food and beverage options. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Journal
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
What role do Irish companies have in the US deportation industry?
DEPORTATION FLIGHTS IN the United States have come under increased scrutiny amid a crackdown on immigration. This deportation policy has caused significant controversy within the US which could spill over to those associated with the deportation industry. With Ireland being a hub for aircraft leasing companies, The Journal Investigates team looked at the links between Irish companies and the operators of deportation flights in the US. We found that two Irish aircraft leasing companies are leasing planes to operators running deportation flights for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Several other international companies with offices in Ireland also have links to these airlines operating deportation flights from the US. Some of these planes owned by Irish companies may also be being used to facilitate this crackdown, though it is unclear whether specific planes leased from Irish companies were used. Our investigation team examined Irish links to two deportation flight operators — GlobalX and Avelo. Both companies have attracted criticism and, in Avelo's case, protests, over their involvement with ICE's deportation flights. These airlines are customers of Irish aircraft leasing companies Genesis and Aercap. Our team also found links between these airlines and three companies with offices in Ireland — Airborne Capital, WNG Capital and DAE Capital. The leasing of planes is a common practice in the commercial aviation industry, and Ireland has become a hub for these companies. Roughly a quarter of the world's commercial planes are owned by companies based in Ireland. In supporting an important industry to the economy, the Irish government has previously supported some of the companies involved through funding or millions in investments. Irish companies leasing to deportation charters Genesis is an aircraft leasing company headquartered in Dublin, which The Journal Investigates has found is leasing planes to two operators of ICE deportation flights. The company's website prominently features an agreement to lease an Airbus A320 plane to GlobalX, a charter airline based in Miami, Florida. GlobalX operates the majority of deportation flights on behalf of ICE. Our team contacted GlobalX for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication. It also announced in December 2023 that Genesis had acquired two Boeing 737-800 planes. These planes were then leased to low-cost US airline Avelo. Avelo has recently signed a long-term contract with ICE to carry out deportation flights for the agency. A spokesperson for Avelo told The Journal Investigates that three 737-800 planes will be used and that 'flights will be both domestic and international to support the Department [of Homeland Security's] deportation efforts'. Aviation data suggests that the company currently has 12 of these 737-800 planes in its fleet. Avelo has faced protests and backlash to its agreement with ICE to operate deportation flights. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Advertisement Investigations like this don't happen without your support… Impactful investigative reporting is powered by people like you. Support The Journal Investigates Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy also said: 'Regardless of the administration or party affiliation, as a US flag carrier, when our country calls and requests assistance, our practice is to say yes,' adding that the company also flew deportation flights under the Biden administration. It is unclear whether the specific planes leased by Genesis to GlobalX and Avelo are used in deportation flights and Genesis did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication. AerCap, an Irish-American company with headquarters in Dublin, is also leasing planes to Avelo. The company lists Avelo as one of its customers on its website. Aviation data suggests that a 737-800 is among the planes leased to Avelo, the same type of plane used in the deportation flights. However, it is not clear if the specific plane leased by AerCap is used in the deportation flights. Our team reached out to AerCap for comment, but we did not receive a response prior to publication. There is no suggestion that any of the leasing companies with bases in Ireland have actively endorsed the controversial deportation policy of the US administration. Leading worldwide hub Aircraft leasing is 'a significant contributor to the Irish economy', according to Michael McGrath in 2023, when he was Minister for Finance. At the launch of a PWC report on the industry he said that 'Government will continue to support the industry and take actions to ensure Ireland remains the leading worldwide hub for aviation leasing firms long into the future'. That report found that the industry is worth almost €900 million to Ireland's economy and it supports over 8,500 jobs. Many companies choose to set up in Ireland due to its favourable corporate tax rate and regulatory stability, much like how many of the world's big tech companies have a presence in Ireland. Both Genesis and AerCap have both benefited from this State investment in the industry. In 2018, Genesis received a €50m investment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), according to a press release by ISIF at the time. At the time, Eugene O'Callaghan, then director of ISIF, said: 'Our investment will support Genesis in its plans to scale its operations substantially and, by managing the targeted fleet of narrowbody planes from Ireland, Genesis is expected to create significant opportunities for maintenance, repairs and overhaul service providers throughout Ireland'. The ISIF is Ireland's sovereign wealth fund and is managed and controlled by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), which reports to the Minister for Finance. Genesis also received a further €13m investment from ISIF in 2021 to support its 'ongoing operations', according to another ISIF press release. On the Genesis website, the investment from ISIF is prominently featured as one of the company's shareholders. It says that it was 'designed to enable Genesis to scale its existing Irish operations and allow for a significant component of the enlarged Genesis fleet'. A spokesperson for ISIF told The Journal Investigates , that 'this investment has been structured from the start as an indirect, non-controlling, minority investment'. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance referred to the statement from ISIF, adding that they had nothing further to add. AerCap has also previously received state support. Sign up The Journal Investigates is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. Our newsletter gives you an inside look at how we do this. Sign up here... Sign up .spinner{transform-origin:center;animation:spinner .75s infinite linear}@keyframes spinner{100%{transform:rotate(360deg)}} You are now signed up In 2015, the Department of Enterprise, through IDA Ireland, invested in the company which resulted in the creation of 'over 100 new highly skilled jobs in Ireland', a government press release stated. The monetary value of this investment is unclear. A spokesperson for IDA Ireland confirmed to The Journal Investigates that AerCap is a client of IDA Ireland, but said it 'does not comment on specific matters relating to client business'. A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise declined to comment, referring to the statement from IDA Ireland. Screenshot from deportation video shared by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele showing two planes operated by GlobalX (Global Crossing Airlines is GlobalX's official company name). X X Other companies in Ireland also linked to deportation charter Dublin-based aircraft leasing company Airborne Capital is another Irish company that has links with GlobalX. In 2023, the company announced that GlobalX had taken delivery of an Airbus A320 on lease from Airborne Capital. Other companies with links to Ireland also include WNG Capital, an aircraft leasing company whose global operations are based out of its offices in Dallas, Texas and Dublin. GlobalX is listed as a customer of WNG Capital on the company's website. Like AerCap, WNG Capital is a client of IDA Ireland. A spokesperson for IDA Ireland said it 'does not comment on specific matters relating to client business' when asked about the links to GlobalX. DAE Capital, a Dubai-based company with offices around the world, including Dublin, is another that lists GlobalX as one of its customers on its website. It is not clear if the planes leased to GlobalX by these companies are used in the deportation flights. Because US law restricts the ownership of planes to citizens, some US banks offer aircraft ownership trusts which are used by companies and individuals to register the plane with the Federal Aviation Administration. These agreements are common for businesses, however, they are also confidential meaning it is not possible to determine who owns a specific plane as the bank trust is listed as the registered owner. Our team reached out to Airborne Capital, WNG Capital and DAE Capital but did not receive a response prior to publication. GlobalX remains at the centre of ICE's deportation efforts. In March of this year, the Trump administration deported Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador despite a judicial order that the planes carrying them be turned around. Video footage circulated by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele shows three planes on the runway with GlobalX company branding and flight tracking data confirms these were operated by the airline. We asked GlobalX about these flights but it did not respond. These migrants were transferred to El Salvador's notorious mega-prison. The deportations sparked reaction from across the world, including a protest march in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The Journal Investigates Reporter: Conor O'Carroll • Editor & Additional Reporting: Maria Delaney • Social Media: Cliodhna Travers • Main Image Design: Lorcan O'Reilly Investigations like this don't happen without your support... Impactful investigative reporting is powered by people like you. Over 5,000 readers have already supported our mission with a monthly or one-off payment. 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