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One of the major airline partners at Hollywood Burbank Airport is set to depart.
On Monday, budget airline Avelo announced it would close bases in Southern California, move planes to various hubs around the country, and offer California-based staff the opportunity to move elsewhere.
For over four years, Avelo has been operating from Burbank Airport and has been established as a base on the West Coast. The airline was launched under its current brand name during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ultra-low-cost carrier has quickly expanded its operations in Burbank, adding flights to Northern California, Oregon and short-term Montana.
Abelo Airlines aircraft will be seen at Hollywood Burbank Airport on April 7, 2021.
In 2023, the airline celebrated the flight of one million passengers and even described Burbank flights as one of the most successful products, accounting for a third of all customers at the time.
However, airline officials say the company has been hit hard by new financial challenges that have become increasingly difficult to serve its west coast destinations.
On Monday, CEO Andrew Levy confirmed that Abelo will reduce the number of planes flying from Los Angeles County by mid-August before closing the base entirely on December 2, 2025.
Levi described the decision as difficult, adding that there is no peculiar reason for Abelo to halt operations with one of the longest airport partners.
“We believe in the continuation of our service. [Hollywood Burbank Airport] In our current operating environment, we do not bring sufficient financial returns against a very competitive background,” he said.
Avelo will move its current Burbank fleet to various locations. Levy says the company is looking at a more “efficient long-term growth outlook” as it seeks to build its East Coast business.
The Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-800 is preparing to board at Hollywood Burbank Airport on May 30, 2021 in Burbank, California. (Getty Images)
All California-based employees will be given the opportunity to move to another Abelo base, Levy said. These are all located on the East Coast, including Hartford, Connecticut. Charlotte, North Carolina. Wilmington, Delaware.
Passengers with existing flights can cancel their trip online and get a refund.
In addition to flying ticket-buying passengers from Los Angeles County, Abelo has received a backlash and called for a boycott after the airline announced it had partnered with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Office to provide charter flights to support deportation efforts. These flights were run specifically from Arizona’s Mesa Gateway Airport, but the promotion of a company boycott was circulating on social media.
A spokesman for the company denied that the decision was linked to a charter program in Arizona, saying it had invested “critical time, resources and effort” that had not produced “necessary outcomes” to continue its existence on the West Coast.
Requests for comment from Hollywood Burbank Airport regarding the news have returned to Abelo.
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