Houston-based Avelo Airlines is entering new territory as it signs on to provide deportation flights for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), starting in May. This marks a step in a different direction for Avelo, known for its budget-friendly fare, as it leans into the deportation business—a move that might carry as much weight in public relations as it does in revenue, according to Click2Houston.
Avelo has confirmed that they recently inked a contract with the Department of Homeland Security's ICE, a deal which includes providing three Boeing 737-800 airplanes coming from Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. The operations are slated to start on May 12, according to an announcement by the airline. "We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic," Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, as reported by Click2Houston.
Levy also mentioned that the decision was driven by a desire to provide "stability" and support future expansion plans while maintaining employment for Avelo's over 1,100 crew members. This new foray into ICE-affiliated charters is not without backlash, as a petition launched on Change.org titled "We Won't Fly Avelo until they stop ICE flights" has accumulated nearly 4,000 signatures, reflecting a sense of unrest among a segment of the public, as stated by Click2Houston.
In detailing the operational aspects, Avelo stated that current airline employees would be given preference to work these deportation flights prior to opening up hiring in the local Arizona area. This suggests an eagerness within the company to integrate existing staff into the new operations as seamlessly as possible. However, this new business venture is unusual for a commercial airline, according to Tom Cartwright, flight data analyst for the advocacy group Witness at the Border. In a statement obtained by the AP News, Cartwright pointed out that for the past five years, he has not seen commercial airlines take on such roles frequently reserved for lesser-known charter companies.
