In April 2025, it was revealed that low cost carrier Avelo Airlines would start operating deportation flights, as part of an agreement with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
From Avelo’s perspective, this was a way to get a steady income stream, in an otherwise challenging market for primarily domestic airlines. As you’d expect, though, this move was controversial, and Avelo faced pushback in many markets. So there’s an interesting update on that front.
The airline is closing several of its bases, including in Mesa, Arizona (AZA), Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (RDU), and Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM), and is instead focusing on New Haven, Connecticut (HVN), Wilmington, Delaware (ILG), Concord, North Carolina (USA), and Lakeland, Florida (LAL).
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on One Mile at a Time.
