Avelo Airlines is revving up for a bigger splash in the Bay Area. Fresh off the proverbial runway, they've announced plans to establish a new base of operations at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS). Starting May 1, this move promises to bolster their budget-friendly flight lineup that's been cruising the skies since their 2021 launch, according to the airline's recent announcement.
Inking the deal in Sonoma, Avelo's putting down roots with two Boeing 737s and creating opportunities for up to 50 new crew members. Their ranks will swell with pilots, flight attendants, and aviation technicians. Job seekers should swoop to Avelo's careers page for a shot at these positions. And for travelers, the airline continues to spread its wings with extended West Coast spring and summer schedules that you can circle on your calendar – they're locked in until June 11.
"STS is our kind of hometown airport – friendly, fast and easy," Avelo Airlines Founder, Chairman, and CEO Andrew Levy said. The carrier has tried to mesh affordable travel with uncompromised service and reliability. More than 300,000 passengers have reportedly partaken in Avelo's offerings since its Bay Area inception. Levy expressed his excitement over the "platform for growth" that STS will afford them, alongside the significant employment and economic boons bound for the region.
Flying from STS, Avelo's rosters include sought-after spots like Bend, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. Their current schedule has Vegas and Palm Springs on the itinerary up to four days a week, while Los Angeles gets the Avelo airtime every day but Wednesday. Avelo’s fares start teasingly low – think $72 for a one-way ticket to Los Angeles. And, true to their affordable aviation ethos, changes and cancellations won't nickel and dime customers with extra fees. Avelo's reliability stats show they're not just all talk – in 2023, they reportedly boasted the lowest flight cancellation rate in the industry. They soared to a commendable second place for on-time reliability, per data from Anuvu’s platform.
Sonoma County's airport manager, Jon Stout, chimed in with his two cents, heralding the "next chapter" with Avelo as something to rev up community spirits and the local economy. And with their unwavering commitment to convenient travel, Avelo continues to outstrip much of the competition by operating nonstop flights, predominantly connecting underserved communities to bigger skies and has ferried a noteworthy 4 million customers across 30,000 flights since its takeoff.
