Avelo pulls out of Bradley Airport

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT (WFSB) - Avelo Airlines is stopping service out of Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, the Connecticut Airport Authority announced on Thursday.

The CAA said it was puzzled by the move.

“The CAA is disappointed and surprised to learn of Avelo’s decision to pull out of Bradley International Airport, particularly its decision to cancel the state’s only nonstop service to Montego Bay, Jamaica,” the CAA said in a statement.

Avelo told the CAA that that it has been unsuccessful at Bradley.

The CAA said the cancellation of Avelo’s services and its stated reasoning for doing so continues a disturbing trend of the airline misrepresenting facts and trying to dodge reasonable fees that other airlines pay as a regular course of business.

Avelo just started flying from Bradley last November.

There were three active Avelo flights out of Windsor Locks: Cancun, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay.

“So sad to hear it’s leaving so soon before we could try it and I’m sure there’s other local customers disappointed because it’s their home country or because they wanted to check it out for vacation,” said Tisa Rabun from Glastonbury.

With prominent Hispanic and Jamaican communities in the Greater Hartford area, those flights are important to families.

“The decision to cancel the Montego Bay route is inexplicable.... Lack of demand is a flimsy excuse... Avelo is actively trying to avoid its obligations while simultaneously taking advantage of incentives,” wrote the CAA.

Moving forward, the airport will have to find a new carrier to secure nonstop service to Jamaica.

“Having now to go to LaGuardia or JFK or Boston is just a hassle. I’m surprised they ended [it] because I thought it’d be a popular route and people would’ve been using it, probably disappointing for people trying to get home and those of us who would love to visit a beautiful country for vacation,” Rabun added.

The CAA claimed Avelo has asked to not pay rent for the remainder of its contract at Bradley, despite spending a year rent free. The CAA is refusing.

“The CAA understands Avelo’s financial distress and the impacts of public backlash related to its other business decisions, but the CAA cannot relieve Avelo of its financial commitments after investing so much in the airline’s success.”

The authority said it is committed to once again securing nonstop Jamaica service for its passengers and is already fielding interest from other carriers that would like to explore resuming that service.

This also comes as Spirit Airlines is leaving Bradley next week.