Avelo Airlines, a steadfast supporter of UConn Athletics since January 2022, took the University of Connecticut Men’s NCAA championship basketball team to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. The Huskies were flown to the nation’s capital for a special White House victory ceremony hosted by President Biden. This marks the second consecutive year that Avelo has had the honor of flying the championship team to the White House, solidifying their dedication to the university’s athletic achievements.
“As a proud partner of UConn Athletics, we are honored to have the privilege (for the second time) of flying the Huskies to Washington, D.C. to meet The President,” expressed Andrew Levy, Founder and CEO of Avelo Airlines. “As Connecticut’s Hometown Airline, we applaud and share the team’s unrivaled commitment to excellence and teamwork. Congratulations and we look forward to welcoming you aboard this hard-earned and well-deserved trip to the White House.”
The team embarked on their journey from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) aboard one of Avelo’s 19 Boeing Next-Generation 737 jetliners, departing around 9:30 a.m. and arriving at Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) approximately 90 minutes later. Their return flight to Hartford was scheduled for the same day.
Beyond their support for UConn Athletics, Avelo Airlines is making its mark as Connecticut’s Hometown Airline. With New Haven serving as their largest base, Avelo employs over 250 crew members and operates eight aircraft across more than 25 nonstop destinations. Since its launch at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) in November 2021, Avelo has transported over 2.5 million customers.
The airline’s reach is expanding, with five new nonstop routes set to commence from Bradley International Airport (BDL) in November. These additions include Avelo’s first international destinations: Cancun, Mexico (CUN) and Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ). Domestically, new routes will connect Hartford to Houston (HOU), Daytona Beach (DAB), Orlando/Lakeland (LAL), Charlotte/Concord (USA), Wilmington (ILM) and New Orleans (MSY) from Tweed-New Haven Airport.
Avelo’s commitment to reliability and customer service has earned them recognition as “America’s Most Convenient Airline.” Since its inaugural flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has transported over 5.4 million customers on over 42,000 flights. Currently, the airline serves 49 destinations across 23 states, Puerto Rico, and two international locations—Jamaica and Mexico. Avelo focuses on serving communities that lack direct air service or are underserved, offering routes from smaller, user-friendly airports that offer a less hectic travel experience compared to larger, more congested airports.
Avelo’s dedication to exceptional service is evident in their industry-leading reliability. Year-to-date, Avelo has consistently ranked #1 in on-time performance and boasts the lowest flight cancellation rate in the industry, according to aviation data services company Anuvu. These achievements are also cited in The Wall Street Journal’s annual airline rankings. Avelo’s full industry results can be accessed on their website, AveloAir.com.
Avelo takes pride in making travel adaptable and family-friendly. Customers have the flexibility to change or cancel their flights without incurring additional fees. Families with children aged 14 and under are automatically seated together at no extra cost. To enhance comfort, Avelo offers advanced seat selection, with a third of their seats providing extra legroom ranging from 32 to over 36 inches. Customers can further personalize their travel with options like priority boarding, checked and carry-on luggage, and pet cabin accommodations, paying only for the services they require.
UConn’s choice of Avelo for this prestigious mission speaks volumes about the airline’s unwavering reliability and dedication to providing a caring and exceptional travel experience. Levy emphasized, “UConn’s selection of Avelo for this important and exciting mission is a strong vote of confidence in the industry-leading reliability and caring Soul of Service our team works tirelessly to deliver every day on every flight.”
