Following its Dec. 9 announcement that it would offer nonstop service to New Haven, Connecticut, Avelo Airlines launched its first flight out of Jacksonville on Feb. 14 at 12:35 p.m.
The inbound flight from New Haven had about 170 passengers. The flight out of Jacksonville boarded about 50 travelers. Capacity on the Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft is 189.
The Houston-based carrier departs Jacksonville out of gate C5 on Monday and Friday. For example, the Feb. 17 flight leaves Jacksonville at 11:20 a.m. and arrives at Tweed New Haven at 1:45 p.m. The Feb. 21 return flight leaves New Haven at 8 a.m. and arrives in Jacksonville at 10:35 a.m.
According to Avelo Air’s website, one-way fares from Jacksonville start at $44.
Avelo communications manager Courtney Goff said the airline is actively exploring future flight options. She declined to comment on where, but said there are “several” options and flight destinations would likely be in the Northeast.
“It’s all about making sure the timing is right and having all of our airplanes equipped and ready to go for it,” she said.
Goff said New Haven is the airline’s largest base of operations, employing about 300 of its 1,000 employees.
“This is an important milestone, not just for the organization but for the community,” Tony Cugno, Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s chief operating officer, said Dec. 9. “The reason why it’s important is the addition of new air service and new airlines help to drive and sustain long-term economic growth for the region, whether by businesses relocating to town or, more importantly, helping to sustain the vibrant tourist industry in Northeast Florida.”
Avelo is the 10th carrier at Jacksonville International Airport.
According to its website, it serves 50 destinations across the United States, Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
It has six bases: Connecticut’s Tweed New Haven Airport; Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles; the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region’s Wilmington Airport; Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina; Sonoma County (California) Airport; and Lakeland International Airport.
Goff said bases in Concord and Willmington, North Carolina, are opening this Spring.
In Florida, Avelo also serves Daytona Beach; Destin/Fort Walton Beach; Fort Lauderdale; Fort Myers; Orlando; Sarasota; and West Palm Beach.
According to Anuvu, a provider of airline operations data, Avelo is ranked second for on-time performance and first for cancellation rates among 11 airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Breeze Airways and Spirit Airlines.
This is not Avelo’s first attempt to offer service out of Northeast Florida. It had been in discussions to add service in 2023 to St. Augustine, but plans did not advance.