Avelo streamlines bases and fleet after fresh cash boost

TL;DR:

On 6 Jan 2026 Avelo said it was recapitalized and cash-strong.
The airline will close bases at Mesa, Raleigh, and Wilmington, NC.
It will center on New Haven, Wilmington DE, Charlotte/Concord, and Lakeland.
Six 737-700s leave the fleet. 737-800s remain the core.
Avelo plans a Dallas/McKinney base in late 2026 and has an E195-E2 order.

On 6 January 2026, Avelo Airlines announced a balance sheet reset and a tighter network plan. The company said it completed a recapitalization, calling its cash position one of the strongest among peers of similar size. It will now focus flying around four bases and exit three others. The airline will also retire six Boeing 737-700s and lean on the 737-800 as its main workhorse. The update was posted by Avelo and carried by trade outlets the same day.

The message follows months of route cuts at some airports, including Bradley International near Hartford, with final services in January 2026.

The new map

Avelo says it will center growth on four bases in 2026. It also previewed a new Dallas/McKinney base planned for late 2026.

Core bases now

New Haven, Connecticut (HVN)
Wilmington, Delaware, serving the Philadelphia region (ILG)
Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina (USA)
Lakeland, Central Florida (LAL)

Closing bases

Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona (AZA)
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (RDU)
Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)

Avelo will still fly to RDU and ILM from select cities after the bases close.

Quick view: base changes

Airport	Status in 2026	Notes
HVN New Haven	Core base	Large focus city for Avelo.
ILG Wilmington DE	Core base	Covers the Philadelphia-Delaware Valley.
USA Concord NC	Core base	Newer East Coast base.
LAL Lakeland FL	Core base	Central Florida access.
AZA Mesa AZ	Closing	Base to be closed, service restructured.
RDU Raleigh NC	Closing as base	Service remains on select routes.
ILM Wilmington NC	Closing as base	Service remains on select routes.
TKI Dallas/McKinney	Planned base	Targeted for late 2026.

Source details are in the company release and trade writeups.

Fleet moves

Avelo will remove six 737-700s. The 737-800 will be the main jet for now. The company also referenced its order for up to 100 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, saying it expects to be the first U.S. carrier to fly the type. Timing beyond “coming years” was not given.

Public fleet trackers had shown about 22 Boeing 737NG aircraft in service in late 2025, most with high-density layouts. The mix will skew more to 737-800 after the -700 exits. Independent outlets confirmed the shift the same day as the announcement.

Routes already affected

Travelers in Connecticut saw changes first. Avelo began winding down Bradley International service in late 2025. The last flights were set for January 2026. Local outlets and aviation sites reported the exit and route cuts to warm-weather points.

Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington, NC will still see Avelo flights from a few cities, but they will no longer host crew and aircraft bases. Expect schedule tweaks this month as the plan takes hold.

How it affects you

If you fly from AZA, RDU, or ILM. Watch for emails or texts about canceled or retimed flights. Avelo says it will contact impacted customers directly. You can also check “Manage Trips” to self-serve changes and avoid a call-center fee.
If you use HVN, ILG, USA, or LAL. Expect more stable schedules and added routes over time as aircraft and crews concentrate at these bases. That usually means better early-morning and late-evening options.
Expect equipment changes. Some flights that were 737-700 may shift to 737-800. Seat maps and bag space can differ by subfleet. Recheck your seat selection after any aircraft swap.

Background and context

Avelo launched scheduled service in April 2021 and grew by using smaller, easier airports. It added and removed routes fast to chase demand. The carrier also faced controversy in 2025 tied to a charter contract for deportation flights from Arizona, which drew local criticism in some Avelo focus markets. The new 2026 plan reduces complexity and concentrates resources.

Trade outlets that cover airline strategy framed the announcement as a standard ULCC reset. Concentrating bases can improve aircraft use, on-time performance, and crew reliability, while retiring a subfleet lowers costs. Those gains can fund future growth, including the planned Dallas/McKinney base and, later, the E195-E2 rollout.

What happens next

January 2026. Base closures begin and schedules adjust. Customer notices roll out.
2026 growth. Focus on four core bases, with targeted new routes. Watch Avelo’s route updates page for adds.
Late 2026. Dallas/McKinney base expected to open, pending approvals and hiring.
Beyond. E195-E2 deliveries tied to a large order plan. Avelo states it will be the first U.S. operator of the type.

Reader checklist

Check your booking status today in Manage Trips.
If Avelo changed your flight, review options online first.
If you are flexible, look at HVN, ILG, USA, or LAL for new deals.
Re-select seats after any aircraft change.
Track fare drops. Avelo issues Avelo Cash credits when you rebook at a lower price.

Why it matters

Base closures and subfleet cuts can cause short-term pain in some cities. The payoff, if the plan works, is a tighter schedule and more reliable service where Avelo is strongest. That means better odds of low fares and on-time flights from the four core bases, plus a new North Texas option by the end of 2026.