Avelo Airlines is a scheduled discount airline that flies domestic routes to under-served locations within the USA. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Avelo flights run mainly up and down the East and West Coasts, with plans for limited international flights.
Avelo Airlines: Origins as Casino Express
First established as Casino Express Airlines in 1987 by casino owner Tod McClaskey, the airline began operations in 1989. A charter outfit, Casino Express initially flew its Boeing 737-200s exclusively for McClaskey’s Red Lion Hotel and Casino in Elko, Nevada.
The airline’s niche market soon began to wane, however, and Casino Express looked to expand its operations. In 1994 it flew scheduled weekend-only flights from Elko Regional Airport to Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.
The airline also briefly operated a single 737-200 for the start-up airline Tahoe Air in 1999.
XTRA Airways
Tod McClaskey went West in 2003, and in December of 2005 Casino Express was acquired by the partnership of CXP Management and Avion Group.
The name was changed to Xtra Airways and operations expanded across the USA, as well as internationally on a limited basis.
The airline’s customer base also expanded to include sports teams, the press corps, government agencies, and various VIPs.
Beginning in 2007, XTRA Airways flew contract for Direct Air, based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They used a pair of 737-400s in this role through 2012, when Direct Air suspended operations and filed for bankruptcy.
September of 2016 brought a high-profile charter contract for the airline. Two of XTRA’s Boeing 737s were hired to fly Hillary Clinton around the USA for her 2016 presidential campaign.
Avelo Airlines
In August of 2018, XTRA was acquired by Andrew Levy, former United Airlines executive and Allegiant Air co-founder. His intent was to switch from charter operations to a scheduled ‘ultra-low-cost’ service.
Levy’s main goal was to offer flights to and from places where few if any major airlines had a presence. By doing so, many people who would not otherwise fly, because of cost or inconvenient location, could now travel by air.
An early investor document from the last days of XTRA airways stated:
“Ultra-low-cost carriers in the USA are unreliable compared to others around the world, and rely too much on primary airports. XTRA will seek out lower-cost, second-tier airports.”
XTRA Becomes Avelo Airlines
Headquarters were moved to Houston, Texas, and in April of 2021, it was announced that XTRA would be renamed to Avelo Airlines.
Scheduled operations began on 28 April 2021, with a flight originating from Avelo’s base at Hollywood Burbank Airport, California. The destination was Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California.
Avelo initially offered flights to eleven un-served West Coast destinations. Its fleet at the time consisted of three Boeing 737-800s, but this number had doubled by the end of 2021.
Avelo Airlines Expands
By the end of 2021 Avelo had established a second base at Tweed New Haven Airport, Connecticut, with most flights going to Florida. Tweed has since become Avelo’s most active base, offering flights to 26 destinations across the Eastern USA.
In 2022, Avelo Airlines established three bases at Orlando International Airport, New Castle Airport in Wilmington, Delaware, and Raleigh–Durham International Airport, North Carolina.
A sixth base at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, opened in 2023, but has since moved to Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport.
Avelo Airlines in 2024
As of mid 2024, Avelo Airlines West Coast flights run mainly to thirteen destinations within the states of California and Oregon. Other destinations include Colorado, Nevada, and Washington.
On the East Coast, Avelo offers flights across the entire Eastern USA. These include locations in the Carolinas, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia.
In February 2024, Avelo announced plans to add several aircraft to its fleet, and in July revealed expansion plans to include 18 new routes, and two new bases. One at Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut and the other at Lakeland Linder Airport, Florida.
Most significantly, Avelo Airlines announced international service to Mexico and Jamaica, beginning in November of 2024.
Mission Accomplished- Avelo Found Its Niche
Alevo Airlines has found a niche for itself, offering low-cost airfare to largely casual travelers. People who simply wanna visit family and friends, or take the aerial equivalent of a road trip.
People who wouldn’t otherwise fly because of the high cost, or because they live too far from the nearest major airport.
As Andrew Levy once said, “There’s a lot of room for more airplane seats in the United States.”
