Houston-based Avelo Airlines begins service outside its home city

One of America’s newest airlines, and a Houston airline, has just launched service from Houston. Avelo Airlines made its first flight from Space City on Friday, sending passengers from William P. Hobby Airport to Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in Connecticut.

“Today marks an important milestone as we inaugurate Avelo’s first flight from our hometown of Houston,” Andrew Levy, founder and CEO of Avelo Airlines, said in a press release. “Avelo will be the only airline connecting Houston and Connecticut, making access to the gateway to New England and New York easier, faster and more affordable than ever.”

Avelo’s roots date back to 1987 as a Casino Express Airlines charter carrier, flying wealthy casino patrons to and from a Nevada airport. In the 2000s, the carrier expanded its fleet and became Xtra Airways, which serves dignitaries and sports teams among others. But in 2018, former Allegiant Air COO Andrew Levy acquired Xtra and temporarily named it Houston Air Holdings, basing his company in the Bayou City.

In 2021, Levy renamed his company Avelo Airlines, completing its transformation from a charter company to a low-cost passenger airline, similar to Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit. While Avelo is headquartered at Houston’s Greenway Plaza, home to its support center and 200 employees, it first operated flights at Hollywood Burbank Airport near Los Angeles. This year, the airline expanded its service throughout the East Coast with the establishment of a hub in New Haven. Avelo boasts of serving 4.7 million customers on 37,000 flights since its launch in 2021.

Avelo will operate flights from Hobby Airport to New Haven on Mondays and Fridays using Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft. Boeing has been criticized in recent months, particularly regarding its 737 MAX plane, developed after the new generation planes.

During the summer, Avelo’s one-way fares from Houston to New Haven start at less than $100. To celebrate the launch of its service in Houston on Friday, Avelo hosted live music and a water cannon shootout at its Hobby Gate.

“Houston Airports is proud to celebrate the launch of Avelo Airlines’ new nonstop service between Hobby Airport and Connecticut,” Jim Szczesniak, Houston Airports’ director of aviation, said in a statement. “This exciting partnership provides our passengers with even more convenient travel options between Houston and the Northeast. Avelo’s commitment to affordability aligns perfectly with our mission to connect people, businesses and cultures in Houston.