HOUSTON, TX — Avelo Airlines has ended its involvement in Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation flights, less than a year after becoming a key commercial carrier used by the Trump administration to remove immigrants from the United States.
The budget airline confirmed it will close its base at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona on January 27, effectively ending its participation in ICE’s full-aircraft deportation program. Avelo spokesperson Courtney Goff said the arrangement failed to provide reliable long-term revenue, citing operational complexity and higher-than-expected costs. CEO Andrew Levy told employees the decision followed growing political controversy surrounding the flights, despite earlier promises of financial stability.
Avelo drew national attention after the Associated Press reported last year that it appeared to be the only commercial airline conducting regularly scheduled, full-plane deportation flights for ICE. Immigrant advocacy groups quickly mobilized, staging protests near Avelo bases in New Haven, Connecticut, Wilmington, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee. Labor pressure followed, with the airline’s flight attendants’ union publicly criticizing the deportation work as outside the scope of what crews originally signed up to perform.
While Avelo’s exit reduces the number of commercial carriers directly involved, deportations will continue through a mix of chartered and commercial flights. According to the AP, more than 80 percent of deportation flights are handled by Avelo, GlobalX, and Eastern Air Express. The Department of Homeland Security reported over 605,000 deportations last year, surpassing totals from the entire Biden administration.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
