Avelo Airlines signs a lucrative ICE deportation contract and moves to an Arizona base, sparking both business optimism and fierce community backlash.

At a Glance

• Avelo Airlines has secured a multi-year agreement with ICE to conduct deportation flights starting May 2025
• The airline will establish a new base at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona with three Boeing 737-800 aircraft dedicated to these operations
• Avelo will close its unprofitable Sonoma County base while continuing limited service there
• CEO Andrew Levy acknowledged the controversial nature of the decision but emphasized it ensures financial stability and preserves 1,100 jobs
• Critics including New Haven’s mayor have launched a petition with 4,200+ signatures urging Avelo to reconsider

Strategic Business Decision Amid Controversy

Avelo Airlines has finalized an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide charter flights for federal deportation operations. The airline will begin these services in May, operating both domestic and international flights from a new base at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. This business arrangement, described as a “long-term charter program” with the Department of Homeland Security, represents a significant operational shift for the ultra-low-cost carrier founded in 2021.

The airline will deploy three Boeing 737-800 aircraft specifically for these government charter operations. Flight data analyst Tom Cartwright noted that Avelo’s entry into deportation services is “unusual” as these operations are typically handled by lesser-known charter companies that maintain a lower public profile. The agreement’s financial details weren’t disclosed, but it appears substantial enough to influence Avelo’s broader business strategy.

Avelo Airlines and the Department of Homeland Security have reached an agreement on illegal immigration deportation flights out of Arizona.

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— The National Desk (@TND) April 8, 2025

Financial Stability vs. Public Relations Risk

Avelo’s CEO Andrew Levy has acknowledged the controversial nature of the decision while emphasizing the financial stability it provides. The airline is simultaneously closing its unprofitable base in Sonoma County, California, though it will maintain limited service from that location to Las Vegas and several California destinations. The company has launched a local hiring initiative in Arizona to staff the new operation immediately.

“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic,” Levy said in a statement. “After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 crew members employed for years to come.”

Job postings for the new Arizona base specifically mention positions supporting DHS deportation efforts. Employees affected by the Sonoma County closure will have transfer opportunities to other Avelo bases, including the new Arizona operation, though some job losses are anticipated. The airline has previously conducted unspecified charter flights under the Biden administration.

Community Backlash and Boycott Efforts

The announcement has triggered significant opposition, particularly in New Haven, Connecticut, where Avelo maintains a base and bills itself as “New Haven’s hometown airline.” Mayor Justin Elicker has publicly criticized the decision, and the New Haven Immigrant Heritage Coalition has launched an online petition urging Avelo to reverse course. The petition has gathered approximately 4,200 signatures as of this reporting.

“Avelo Airlines’ decision to charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona is deeply disappointing and disturbing. For a company that champions themselves as ‘New Haven’s hometown airline,’ this business decision is antithetical to New Haven’s values,” Elicker said in a statement. “Travel should be about bringing people together, not tearing families apart.”

The controversy highlights the complex balancing act facing businesses that contract with federal immigration enforcement agencies. For Avelo, the financial benefits appear to outweigh potential public relations damage, as the company focuses on ensuring operational viability in a highly competitive airline industry still recovering from pandemic disruptions.