Budget airline Avelo partners with ICE to launch deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport, receiving backlash from immigrant advocates while the company defends its decision as necessary for business stability.
At a Glance
- Avelo Airlines will begin operating ICE deportation charter flights from Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona starting May 12
- The airline will dedicate three Boeing 737-800 aircraft to the operation, establishing a new crew base in Mesa
- CEO Andrew Levy defended the controversial decision as necessary for business stability and protecting 1,100 jobs
- The move coincides with Avelo reducing commercial operations at Sonoma County Airport due to poor performance
- Immigration advocates have launched a petition with nearly 7,000 signatures calling for a boycott of the airline
Budget Airline Takes On Controversial Government Contract
In a move that’s generating both business opportunities and political controversy, Avelo Airlines has signed a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate deportation flights. The Houston-based budget carrier announced on April 10 that it will establish a new base at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, approximately 120 miles north of the Mexico border. Starting May 12, Avelo will dedicate three Boeing 737-800 aircraft specifically for these government charter operations, marking an unusual move for a commercial passenger airline to directly participate in federal deportation efforts.
Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy acknowledged the controversial nature of the decision while framing it as a patriotic duty. The airline’s leadership sees the contract as providing essential stability for the relatively new carrier, which launched in 2021 and currently employs over 1,100 people. The agreement with ICE represents a guaranteed revenue stream for Avelo at a time when the company is facing challenges in some of its commercial markets, particularly in California where it’s scaling back operations at Sonoma County Airport.
Avelo Airlines is drawing criticism after reportedly signing a contract to operate federal deportation charter flights beginning in May 2025.
Avelo Airlines is partnering with Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) to charter deportation flights out of an Arizona airport.… pic.twitter.com/BZjykJlIV1
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) April 8, 2025
Business Strategy Behind the Decision
For Avelo Airlines, the ICE contract represents more than just a business opportunity—it’s a strategic pivot during challenging times for the young carrier. The company plans to establish a new crew base at Mesa Gateway Airport and is actively hiring flight attendants and aircraft technicians specifically for these charter operations. According to company spokesperson Courtney Goff, “These charters will not have an effect on our commercial operations, they are completely separate.” This separation allows Avelo to maintain its commercial identity while developing a new revenue stream.
The airline’s move into government charter work coincides with a significant restructuring of its commercial operations. Avelo announced it will reduce services at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, cutting four of its eight routes due to poor financial performance and low demand. The airline will close its base at the Sonoma facility and shift those operations to Burbank Airport in Southern California. Despite these reductions, Avelo will maintain service from Sonoma to Bend/Redmond, Las Vegas, Los Angeles/Burbank, and Palm Springs.
Controversy and Opposition
The decision to participate in deportation operations has sparked significant backlash, particularly in New Haven, Connecticut, where Avelo maintains a hub and has branded itself as “New Haven’s hometown airline.” New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker publicly condemned the airline’s decision, calling it “deeply disappointing and disturbing” and “antithetical to New Haven’s values.” The New Haven Immigrant Heritage Coalition launched a petition opposing Avelo’s involvement in deportation flights that has gathered nearly 7,000 signatures and calls for a boycott of the airline.
Flight data analyst Tom Cartwright noted that Avelo’s direct involvement in deportation flights is unusual in the industry, as these operations are typically handled by lesser-known charter companies that maintain a low profile. By explicitly announcing its participation in deportation operations, Avelo has opened itself to public scrutiny and potential customer backlash. This represents a calculated risk for the airline as it attempts to balance business stability with its public image and customer relationships in communities where immigration is a sensitive political issue.
