Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Avelo Airlines, a budget carrier known for its cost-effective operations, has sparked controversy by launching deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from Arizona. The airline’s involvement in this federal program has raised significant public debate and safety concerns. Using three Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Avelo is now a key player in the growing number of companies supporting large-scale deportations, which have become a politically charged issue. Despite the backlash, including protests and calls for a boycott, Avelo has continued its operations, highlighting the airline’s pursuit of financial growth even in the face of public opposition.

Avelo Airlines, a budget airline primarily serving smaller U.S. cities, began federal deportation flights from Arizona on Monday, sparking a petition for a boycott and strong criticism from the union representing the carrier’s flight attendants.

In April, Avelo announced that it had signed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to operate charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport, located outside Phoenix. The airline announced that it would deploy three Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the operation. The decision marks a significant expansion of the airline’s operations into the deportation sector, positioning Avelo as a key player in the growing number of companies engaging in deportation services.

Avelo Airlines is not the only company seeking to capitalize on the U.S. government’s commitment to large-scale deportations. The push for deportations, championed by the administration, has sparked debates across the country. Recently, Congress began discussions on a tax bill that includes funding for the removal of one million immigrants annually and for housing 100,000 people in U.S. detention centers. The plan also calls for the hiring of an additional 10,000 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and investigators, expanding ICE’s ability to carry out deportations.

Although Avelo has not publicly disclosed specific details about its agreement with ICE, including the destinations of the deportation flights, the airline confirmed that it would be operating as a sub-carrier for ICE’s deportation program. This program is managed by an air broker, CSI Aviation, which works with charter carriers such as GlobalX and Eastern Air Express. Despite multiple inquiries, Avelo and ICE did not provide further details regarding the terms of the agreement or the financial compensation the airline would receive for its services.

Avelo Airlines began operations in 2021, amidst the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the airline industry was struggling with the aftermath of the crisis, and major carriers were receiving substantial government support. The airline quickly established a niche by focusing on cost-effective operations. Avelo primarily uses older Boeing 737 jets that can be purchased at relatively low prices, helping the airline keep its operational costs down. Additionally, Avelo operates out of less congested and more affordable secondary airports, offering flights to routes that larger airlines often ignore. This approach has enabled Avelo to maintain profitability, achieving its first profitable quarter in late 2023.

However, the airline’s move into the deportation business has not been without controversy. The decision has triggered strong reactions from various communities and advocacy groups. Protests were held on Monday outside Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona and Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut, where demonstrators expressed their opposition to Avelo’s participation in deportation flights. In Mesa, more than 30 demonstrators assembled on a roadway leading to the airport, holding signs that criticized deportation actions. At the same time, roughly 150 people gathered outside Tweed New Haven Airport, urging travelers to avoid flying with Avelo.
The protests are not only driven by political opposition to deportations but also concern about safety and human rights. The union representing Avelo’s flight attendants voiced serious safety concerns, particularly regarding the evacuation of deportees in case of an emergency. The union stated that evacuating deportees from an aircraft within the federal safety standard of 90 seconds would be incredibly challenging.
The union’s objections highlight the risks involved in operating deportation flights, raising questions about the adequacy of procedures for handling passengers who are under detention.

This backlash also reflects broader concerns about the ethics of companies involved in deportation activities. Unlike companies that operate in the detention center industry, Avelo is a consumer-facing brand. Many businesses in the deportation sector, such as detention center providers, do not rely heavily on consumer branding. Avelo’s public involvement in deportation flights has prompted calls for a boycott, with some advocating for customers to financially pressure the airline into ceasing its operations in the deportation business. Previously, consumer brands like hotel chains distanced themselves from involvement in controversial government actions, such as when migrant children were housed in hotels during the administration’s first term. Avelo’s decision to take on such contracts, despite the potential for backlash, shows the risks companies face when taking part in politically charged activities.

Mesa Gateway Airport is one of five primary hubs for ICE Air, the agency’s air transport division responsible for deportations. According to advocacy groups, ICE Air conducted nearly 8,000 deportation flights in the year leading up to April. The expansion of Avelo’s operations into this space will add to the ongoing debate about corporate responsibility in the deportation industry.

Avelo’s participation in ICE’s deportation program is part of a larger contract with CSI Aviation, which facilitates the movement of detainees by charter airlines. While the financial terms of the agreement have not been made public, the involvement of Avelo underscores the growing role of private companies in carrying out deportation operations. Critics argue that such business relationships further normalize the practice of deportation, while advocates point to the financial incentives driving the airline’s actions.

Currently, Avelo operates more than 50 cities across the U.S., with additional routes to international destinations in Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Despite its involvement in deportation flights, Avelo does not operate regular passenger flights out of Mesa Gateway Airport. This focus on smaller cities and underserved routes has allowed Avelo to compete in the budget airline market, but its new venture into deportation services introduces a complex new dimension to its business model.

Avelo Airlines has begun operating deportation flights for ICE from Arizona, using three Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This move has sparked protests and calls for a boycott, raising concerns about the safety and ethics of such operations.

The unfolding situation with Avelo and its deportation flights highlights the increasing involvement of private companies in immigration enforcement. While the airline may continue to seek financial gain from government contracts, the public outcry and safety concerns surrounding its role in deportation flights suggest that the airline could face increasing pressure from both activists and customers. The controversy surrounding Avelo’s move into the deportation sector shows how deeply divisive the issue of immigration and deportation remains in the United States, with significant implications for both the airline industry and broader society.