For the initial time in above a decade, a new airline carrier is coming to Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, airport officials declared Thursday.
Avelo, a very low-cost provider with bases in Orlando, Fla., Hollywood, Calif. and New Haven, CT, will begin non-end support from Lexington to two areas in Florida. The corporation will start assistance to Orlando commencing Oct. 19 and Tampa starting Nov. 12.
One particular-way fares commence as lower as $39. Tickets go on sale Thursday at www.aveloair.com.
Both equally destinations will have two flights for every 7 days, airport officials said.
Hunter Leavy, main economical officer for Avelo, said the airline, which began in April 2021, is looking to serve secondary markets to make travel much more effortless for all those that stay outdoors of big, metropolitan locations. Lexington was a great in shape.
“We are often wanting for markets that are underserved,” Leavy explained of Avelo’s small business approach. It by now has a foundation or hub in Orlando.
Leavy explained Avelo will begin with the two services spots in Florida but could increase to other airports, possible on the East Coast exactly where it currently has founded support locations.
“It will rely on demand,” Leavy reported.
Eric Frankl, government director and CEO of Blue Grass Airport, reported the airline sector has been hit difficult by the coronavirus pandemic and is however making an attempt to return to pre-pandemic vacation volumes.
“The past numerous yrs in the aviation sector have been an massive obstacle for many communities, including ours, as air provider continues to recover,” Frankl explained. “For Avelo to make this announcement in the present-day natural environment is actually amazing, and we are really appreciative.”
Frankl reported the airport is performing about 80-85% of the small business it did in 2019.
“It’s considerably greater than it was final yr at this time,”Frankl reported. “The challenge this yr has been pilots and plane availability.”
Allegiant, an additional low-expense airline that serves Blue Grass Airport, features flights from Lexington to Orlando and Tampa Bay. Avelo will fly to various airports in individuals cities. Avelo will fly to Orlando International Airport, which is the closet airport to Disney Planet. In Tampa, it will fly to Tampa Intercontinental Airport.
That suggests much more flights to preferred locations in Florida, Frankl reported. That will also assistance the airport expand and retain company.
“They are likely to distinct airports that serve unique populations,” Frankl mentioned of Allegiant and Avelo. “We have a whole lot of folks from Lexington and Central Kentucky that vacation to other airports to vacation. We come to feel like we will be ready to retain a lot more travelers by obtaining extra seats and places they want to go to.”
Avelo’s fleet contains Boeing 737s.
Tourists like even bigger airplanes that have additional place, he claimed.
The very last time a new industrial airplane carrier arrived to Lexington was AirTran in 2010. After AirTran merged with Southwest Airways, it still left Blue Grass Airport in 2012. Allegiant has been at the airport because 2008.
With the addition of Avelo, Blue Grass Airport will soon have 5 commercial carriers — Avelo, Allegiant, American Airways, United Airlines and Delta.
This story was at first released July 28, 2022 10:00 AM.
