Avelo Airlines Faces Backlash Over Deportation Contract with ICE
Company executives stated that operating those flights would provide financial stability.
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Avelo Airlines, a low-cost carrier that quickly rose to prominence in the United States, is at the center of controversy after signing a deportation contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of the Department of Homeland Security.
CEO Andrew Levy announced the formalization of the contract, sparking public outrage and boycott threats from customers.
Avelo, founded during the pandemic by reviving an inactive charter operator that owned a single aging Boeing 737-400, began operations in 2021, offering flights from Burbank, California, to 11 destinations, according to our partner outlet Aeroin.
Since then, the airline has expanded rapidly, growing its fleet to 20 aircraft serving airports across various U.S. regions.
Levy defended the decision, stating that operating deportation flights would provide financial stability to support continued growth and preserve the jobs of Avelo’s 1,100 employees.
To fulfill the contract, Avelo will use three of its Boeing 737-800s to operate deportation flights out of Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, transporting up to 189 deportees per flight to ICE facilities within the U.S. and to international destinations.
However, consumer backlash and union opposition came swiftly and strongly.
According to PYOK, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) has urged Levy to reconsider, calling deportation flights inhumane and warning that this new direction has already damaged the airline’s reputation. In a resolution, AFA-CWA stated it would support any member taking action on moral grounds in opposition to deportation flights.
Levy sought to ease tensions, noting that Avelo had previously operated a few deportation flights, although this marks its first long-term contract with ICE.
To address concerns from flight attendants opposed to this type of operation, the airline plans to hire additional professionals specifically for the deportation service. However, it will first offer relocation opportunities to the Mesa base to existing flight attendants, suggesting the role could present a financially attractive opportunity.
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