Avelo Airlines will end service to Las Vegas in December; discount carrier started flights last January

David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight
·1 min read

Launched last January to a lot of fanfare, discount carrier Avelo Airlines will stop flying to Las Vegas later this year.

Avelo spokeswoman Courtney Goff said the flights did not generate the demand they had anticipated, adding that it was "a situation compounded by record-high fuel costs."

The Redding-to-Las Vegas flights end Dec. 15.

Passengers head to the Redding Municipal Airport terminal after taking the first Avelo Airlines flight from Burbank to Redding on Thursday, May 20, 2021.
Passengers head to the Redding Municipal Airport terminal after taking the first Avelo Airlines flight from Burbank to Redding on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

"We will be refunding everyone booked past that date," Goff said.

Avelo arrived in Redding in May 2021 when it started service to Hollywood-Burbank. Eight months later, the flights to Las Vegas started.

"The (Redding-to-Burbank) route is doing well and we will continue with its twice weekly frequency on Thursdays and Sundays. We do not have any plans to cancel this route at this time," Goff said.

Avelo Airlines' inaugural Redding-to-Las Vegas flight was celebrated under foggy skies at Redding Municipal Airport on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022.
Avelo Airlines' inaugural Redding-to-Las Vegas flight was celebrated under foggy skies at Redding Municipal Airport on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022.

Goff said Avelo has recently canceled service in other cities for various reasons.

"Some cities it's costs, demand, gate times at airports, block times, etc. It truly varies by route and city," she said.

This is the second time Redding has lost flights to Las Vegas.

For a brief time in 2004, Allegiant Air offered flights to Las Vegas out of Redding, but it abruptly ended the service after five months. Allegiant received a $115,000 subsidy package from the city of Redding to help advertise and pay for airport terminal improvements. The city recouped about $50,000 of those costs.

Redding Public Works Director Chuck Aukland said the city helped Avelo advertise the Las Vegas service.

"We did execute a marketing agreement in which the city paid $50,000 to help market the flight. It went to council in November 2021 and I believe they have fulfilled their obligation on that contract," Aukland said in an email.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Avelo Airlines to end service to Las Vegas