Avelo Airlines Ends ICE Deportation Flights

Avelo Airlines has confirmed it will terminate its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate deportation flights. The airline began these operations in May 2025 but will conclude participation in the DHS charter program on January 27. Company representatives attributed the decision to financial performance, noting the program failed to deliver sufficient revenue to offset operational complexity.

This announcement coincides with a major strategic shift for the carrier. Following years of inconsistent earnings, Avelo is closing multiple bases and reducing its fleet size. The airline is pivoting to a focused East Coast strategy, closing its West Coast operations and specific bases in Connecticut, North Carolina, and Arizona. The company aims to stabilize its finances by concentrating on four core airports and preparing for future growth with a new fleet order.

Avelo Airlines will close its base in Mesa, Arizona on January 27, marking the end of its support for federal deportation flights. A company spokesperson stated that the ICE contract provided short-term benefits but ultimately did not generate enough consistent revenue to justify the operational costs. The airline is now looking to strengthen its balance sheet after years of financial instability.

The carrier began operating these flights in May 2025, a move that drew significant criticism from the public and resulted in protests at airports in Albany, Burbank, and New Haven. Despite the controversy, the airline maintained that the flights were a financial necessity. CEO Andrew Levy previously described the decision as financially driven, acknowledging the topic was sensitive but necessary to keep crew members employed.

While the ICE contract is ending, Avelo emphasized its commitment to safety protocols. A spokesperson noted in April that the airline had operated deportation flights under both the Trump and Biden administrations, stating, "when our country calls and requests assistance, our practice is to say 'yes.'" However, the financial return did not meet expectations, leading to the current strategic withdrawal.

Controversy surrounding the Avelo flights extended beyond financial and political optics to include safety allegations. In September, the flight attendant union sent a memo to management claiming that cabin crews were "discouraged or prohibited from performing safety checks and cabin walk-throughs required by the FAA." The union also noted that there were no aircraft modifications to allow for the evacuation of restrained passengers during an emergency.

To staff the deportation flights, Avelo specifically hired pilots, mechanics, and cabin crew members for these roles. According to a listing from April, pay for cabin crew started at $28 per hour. The airline's involvement represented a shift in the deportation system, as it is unusual for a scheduled commercial airline to dedicate aircraft and crews exclusively to ICE flights. Historically, charter airlines such as Global Crossing Airlines and Eastern Air Express have handled these contracts.

Despite Avelo's withdrawal, deportation activity remains high. Data from the nonprofit group Human Rights First indicated there were nearly 12,000 deportation and removal-related flights between January 20 and November 30, 2025. Other charter operators, like GlobalX, expect significant revenue from their contracts, with one five-year deal projected to generate roughly $65 million annually.

Beyond the ICE contract, Avelo is undergoing a comprehensive network overhaul. The airline is closing its entire West Coast operation due to low demand and exiting its base at Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut. Routes to Montego Bay and Cancún are being axed due to revenue underperformance. The carrier is also closing bases in Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina.

The airline plans to focus operations on four core airports: New Haven, Connecticut; Wilmington, Delaware; Charlotte, North Carolina (operating out of Concord-Padgett Regional Airport); and Lakeland, Florida. This strategy reinforces the airline's model of connecting secondary airports to major metropolitan areas. For example, the Delaware base serves the Philadelphia region, while Lakeland is situated between Orlando and Tampa.

To facilitate future growth, Avelo announced an order for up to 100 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft. This marks a shift away from its traditionally all-Boeing fleet. The company stated, "These changes enable Avelo to focus on sustainably scaling five core bases in 2026." A new base is also planned for McKinney, Texas, near Dallas, in late 2026.