Low-cost airline to exit regional airport, refunds available

After months spent exiting markets and cutting routes in an effort to return to profit, Houston-based Avelo Airlines is leaving one more market, to the dismay of both local residents and airport authorities.

Located in the north-central part of Connecticut approximately 20 minutes outside of Hartford, Bradley International Airport (BDL) is second only to Boston Logan (BOS) as the largest airport in New England. It is operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) and saw 6.7 million passengers pass through it last year.

The three Avelo flights that left from BDL are all international ones to sunny destinations and will be phased out in January 2026. The last flight to Mexico's Cancun will run on Jan. 3, while service to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic will end Jan. 5. The Avelo flight to Jamaica's Montego Bay will run a little longer but also be phased out by Jan. 25.

"Those who have bookings on future flights that we intend to cancel will be refunded": Avelo

"We are disappointed to leave the BDL market and we understand the impact this has on our customers," Avelo said in a statement on the end of service.

"Those who have bookings on future flights that we intend to cancel will be refunded. Like all business decisions we make, this exit was made based on facts – the revenues on the market did not cover the costs."

The move caught the Connecticut Airport Authority off guard; the agency overseeing airport operations in the state said it was "disappointed and surprised to learn of" the service cancellations and the end of the Jamaican route in particular, as many local residents relied on it to avoid having to make the longer drive to Boston Logan, Newark, or JFK.

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Avelo had already shut down its West Coast operations by ending its last flights to two regional airports in California and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

While the airline has faced growing protests and taken a reputational hit over its leadership's choice to run flights deporting migrants for the Trump administration, Avelo said the decision to pull out of Bradley International was based purely on poor performance.

"Any other insinuation...is unfortunate, false and uninformed"

"Any other insinuation to the contrary is unfortunate, false and uninformed," the Avelo statement reads further. "We remain committed to serving the state of Connecticut through our low fares out of New Haven Tweed airport."

The CAA, meanwhile, classified the decision to cancel the route to Jamaica as "inexplicable given the strong ridership, subsidies received, significant airport incentives, and community support."

Many local residents who booked travel beyond January 2026 also expressed disappointment about disrupted vacation plans and lack of direct access to the Caribbean country that is popular for winter getaways.

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