Cover photo: Islip officials with Head of Avelo Marketing Jim Olson (Credit – Matt Meduri)
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) has regularly offered four carriers: Frontier, Southwest, JetBlue, and Breeze, with Breeze beginning service at the airport in 2022, followed by JetBlue in 2024.
Now, ISP boasts another carrier: Avelo.
Like Breeze, Avelo is a new carrier, having been founded in 2021. Established as Casino Express Airlines in 1987, the carrier serviced western destinations exclusively to Elko, Nevada. Casino Express expanded and changed its name to Xtra Airways in 2005 to reflect a much broader customer base.
Xtra was acquired in 2018 by Andrew Levy, former president of Allegiant Air and CFO of United Airlines. Levy’s intent was to charter the airline as an ultra-low cost carrier, similar to Breeze Airways’ mission statement. In 2021, the airline was announced under its current name, Avelo, and was based out of Hollywood Burbank Airport in California, one of five commercial airports in the Los Angeles Metro Area. Its inaugural flight took place in April from Burbank to Sonoma.
Just a month thereafter, Avelo announced a new base at Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut. Initially slated for four routes between New Haven and Florida, the carrier had expanded its service to twenty-six destinations by 2024, making New Haven the largest base for Avelo. The airline posted its first profit in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Since 2022, Avelo has established three more base airports: Orlando (MCO), Wilmington, Delaware (ILG), and Raleigh-Durham International (RDU). It’s Las Vegas (LAS) base was relocated to Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) in May 2024.
Now, Islip MacArthur Airport is offering exclusive and direct service to three destinations, all of which are satellite airports to much larger international airports in major cities. Starting May 22, travelers can fly from ISP to Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA), home to Concord, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte. Service will be seasonal.
Additionally, starting June 12, travelers will be able to fly from ISP directly to Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) – Lakeland being a smaller city west of Orlando, Florida – and Wilmington International Airport (ILM) to the well-known, beachfront destination of Wilmington, North Carolina. Service will be regular for both routes.
All flights will be operational on Tuesdays and Thursdays until demand can be further gauged to determine a schedule more tailored to travel patterns.
Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) (pictured above) was joined by Town Councilman John Lorenzo (C-West Sayville) (pictured below) – whose district contains the airport itself – as well as ISP Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken and Deputy Commissioner of Aviation Rob Schneider were there to say “hello to Avelo.”
Councilmen Jim O’Connor (R-Great River), Jorge Guadrón (D-Central Islip), and Mike McElwee (R-West Islip) were also in attendance, as well as Islip Town Clerk Linda Vavricka (R-West Islip) and Islip Town Receiver of Taxes Andy Wittman (R-Sayville).
“Avelo recognizes the advantage of smaller airports for a hassle-free and convenient travel experience. Avelo understands the benefits of smaller airports, fewer crowds, shorter lines that travelers enjoy a smoother, stress-free journey from check-in to boarding,” said Supervisor Carpenter, adding credit to the various teams employed at ISP, notably referring to the TSA crew there as “friendlier than any place in the country.”
The Islip Town and ISP officials were also joined by Jim Olson, head of Brand and Communications for Avelo Airlines, to formally introduce the carrier to Long Island.
“Our purpose at Avelo is to inspire travel. We do that by making it easier and more affordable so people can travel more. And we do that by doing three things. Our value proposition includes convenience, affordability, and reliability,” said Olson, expanding on their three tenets.
Of the convenience aspect, Olson said Avelo “loves airports like Islip.”
“This is our kind of hometown, friendly, and welcoming airport,” said Olson. Avelo’s marketing caters to the smaller, regional airports across the country, with Islip being no exception. The three destinations announced connect Islip to similar airports without being too remote from the action of urban centers, tourist attractions, and core downtowns. Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA) offers service to Charlotte, without having to navigate a much larger airport in Charlotte Douglas International (CLT). The regional airport in Concord allows travelers to access Charlotte without the hassles of long wait times, large or, at times, confusing terminal layouts, and various shuttle buses and trains to connect to other terminals, baggage claim carousels, and rental car services.
“Flying into Charlotte is no longer going to be a hassle,” said Councilman Olson (pictured above). He explained this logic in Avelo’s first airport of service, Burbank, which was proposed as an alternative to the iconic, yet often notorious, Los Angeles International (LAX) Olson said the same of Orlando, which he calls “convenient” until the aspects of navigating the terminal and services come into play.
The second tenet of Avelo’s mission is affordability.
“We have everyday low prices,” said Olson, announcing that if trips are booked by Monday, March 17, for any of the three new destinations announced, travelers can take advantage of introductory rates: $59 one-way fares to Wilmington and Concord, $69 one-way fares for Lakeland.
“This conversation wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t share how proud we are as an airline of our extraordinary reliability,” said Olson, referencing the third cornerstone of Avelo’s value proposition. “From the start, Avelo has been one of America’s most reliable airlines. In 2024, we actually ranked number one in on-time performance and delivered the lowest flight cancellation rate in the country. As a three-year-old airline, we’re pretty proud of that.”
“We know that we have to earn your business, that we have to earn your trust, but we hope you’ll give us a shot,” closed Olson in his pitch to the public.
“I warmly welcome the new carrier. Together with my fellow board members and the Supervisor, we are committed to expanding this economic pillar of our region and this district in Islip,” said Councilman Lorenzo.
“There’s a ton of energy in our community in wanting our airport to grow, and our Town Board and our Supervisor have been huge advocates of that,” said Commissioner LaRose-Arken (pictured above), adding that constituent suggestions for routes are frequently submitted to the Town Board to be presented to ISP. The Town and the airport continue to encourage community input for future routes.
On their website, Avelo advertises customer service perks unique to most other carriers, particularly in the forms of free family seating and no internet booking or convenience fees. The airline shares these features with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue, while Spirit, Sun Country, and Allegiant offer neither. Breeze, Delta, Southwest, and United offer one of the two.
ISP travelers can still access Orlando (MCO) directly by flying Southwest, JetBlue, or Frontier.
