If you fly out of Hollywood Burbank Airport often, there is something important you should know. Avelo Airlines, the budget-friendly carrier based in Texas, is officially shutting down its West Coast operations at this airport.
This means that by early December, you will no longer see Avelo flights leaving from or arriving at Burbank. The airline is adjusting its strategy and moving its focus to where it believes it can grow more in the long term.
Why is Avelo Airlines leaving Burbank?
Avelo is making this change because of financial challenges and increasing competition in the region.
The airline said in a public statement,
“We believe the continuation of service from [Burbank] in the current operating environment will not deliver adequate financial returns in a highly competitive backdrop.”
In simple terms, they are finding it too tough to make money in the Burbank market right now. So instead of continuing to struggle, they are pulling out and putting their energy into places that are doing better for their business.
When will Avelo shut down operations at Burbank?
The shutdown will happen gradually.
- From now until December 2, Avelo will reduce its Burbank operations to just one aircraft.
- After that date, all services from Burbank will officially stop.
Right now, the airline operates 13 routes out of Burbank, so this change will affect many travelers who use this airport for affordable flights.
What will happen to customers with booked flights?
If you have already booked a flight with Avelo out of Burbank after December 2, you are not out of luck.
Here is what you can do:
- You can cancel your trip online
- You will be able to get a full refund through the airline’s website
This should help ease some of the stress if your travel plans are being disrupted.
Where is Avelo focusing its growth now?
Avelo is not shutting down entirely. In fact, they are moving their fleet and resources to other parts of the country—mainly the East Coast.
The airline currently operates out of several hubs there, including:
- Connecticut
- Florida
- North Carolina
- New Hampshire
These are areas where the company sees better chances for long-term growth, so they are shifting their strategy to focus more on those regions.
Will California employees lose their jobs?
The airline said that employees based in California will be offered the opportunity to transfer to another Avelo base.
This means:
- Some workers could move to East Coast locations if they choose
- Others may decide not to relocate and leave the company
Avelo did not share how many jobs would be affected overall, but it did confirm that staff will have options.
Did protests over migrant flights impact this decision?
Recently, Avelo faced public criticism for having a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to help transport migrants to detention centers.
However, the company made it clear that this controversy had nothing to do with the Burbank shutdown.
A spokesperson said the protests and the contract “did not have any effect on its decision to close the base and have not impacted its business.”
So according to the airline, the closure is purely a business decision, not one based on public pressure or politics.
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