Ouch: Avelo Cuts 66% Of Its International Routes

Avelo Airlines is making major cuts to its international operations. The carrier will withdraw from Hartford in January, and at the same time, discontinue one international route from Raleigh/Durham. Overall, it will end four of its six international routes network-wide.

As part of these changes, Avelo will completely stop flights to Cancun and Montego Bay. The decision to exit Montego Bay came before Jamaica was struck by Hurricane Melissa. There is speculation that Breeze Airways could step in to operate some of these routes, as it has done in other markets, including several domestic routes from Burbank. However, Breeze recently canceled three of its planned services before their first departure.

Historical Context and Market Data

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, nonstop flights between Hartford and Cancun existed from 2005 to 2023. During that time, airlines such as Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, and USA 3000 offered service. USA 3000 also served Punta Cana from 2004 to 2007, while Spirit Airlines operated to Montego Bay in 2022 and 2023.

Performance Insights

Load factors have been a key indicator behind these route changes. Avelo’s three international routes from Hartford recorded seat occupancy rates between 59% and 79%.

“With only 59% of seats filled, Cancun sticks out like a sore thumb.”

Data from the U.S. DOT reveals that since the Cancun route launched in November 2024, no month has exceeded a 66% load factor. As analysts note, seat load factors reflect only one aspect of an airline’s performance and should not be viewed in isolation.

Summary

Avelo’s international retrenchment underscores the carrier’s focus on optimizing profitability amid uneven load factors and competitive route dynamics.

Simple Flying — 2025-11-07