Avelo Airlines to cut service from Redding to popular Southern California destination

Redding is losing air service to Hollywood-Burbank, a popular destination for North State families who often parlayed the flights to trips to Universal Studios or Disneyland.

Avelo Airlines spokeswoman Madison Jones told the Record Searchlight on Tuesday afternoon that the service will end Aug. 26.

“We recently learned the business partner supporting Avelo’s airport operations at Redding Regional Airport (RDD) will no longer be serving RDD,” Jones said in part in an emailed statement. “This decision also enables us to better utilize our resources elsewhere in Avelo’s system.”

The announcement comes in the wake of Tuesday’s Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting, where Jared Culver, general manager for Trego Dugan Aviation, which handles ground services for Avelo Airlines in Redding, said his company is pulling out of California later this summer.

Trego Dugan is the company that provides ground-service operations for Avelo Airlines in Redding.

“I’m here because I feel there needs to be a little more attention put on our air service matters here and I hope the board will take interest on weighing in on air service concerns,” Culver told supervisors.

Supervisor Chris Kelstrom asked that supervisors at the next board meeting talk about what the county can do to help Avelo Airlines keep its Redding-to-Burbank flights. Kelstrom’s motion passed unanimously.

“I think time is of the essence, so I think we need to reach out to Avelo Airlines and let them know that the county is willing to help them here, that we’d like to keep them here,” Kelstrom said.

Culver told the Record Searchlight after the meeting that he could not speak for Avelo Airlines.

A Record Searchlight reporter then emailed Avelo Airlines’ spokeswoman Jones for a comment and received confirmation that the flights to Hollywood-Burbank were being canceled.

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Avelo Airlines, which flies twin-engine 737s, started flying to the Hollywood-Burbank Airport out of Redding in May 2021. It also offered flights to Las Vegas for about a year before discontinuing the service in December 2022.

Culver said that his company’s services include checking customers in, loading luggage on the plane and cleaning the plane. “At any given time, we try to staff at least 10 employees,” he said.

Culver said he heard that Avelo attempted to find another “ground handler” after it learned Trego Dugan was leaving, but was not successful.

Culver said he did not know specifically why Trego Dugan is leaving California.

Redding Assistant City Manager Steve Bade said he has attempted to contact Avelo Airlines to see if there is anything the city can do to keep the service, but he has not heard back.

Both Culver and Bade said they heard Avelo Airlines attempted to contract with another ground service operator but was unsuccessful.

"One of the difficult business decisions with these ultra-low-cost carriers, it's an expensive industry, and to get that service and keep the price down, there are only so many options for them," Bade said.

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 X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Avelo Airlines plans to stop Redding-to-Burbank service in August