Starting Thursday, June 13 Avelo will have nonstop twice a week to Tweed-New Haven Airport in CT
Flights will be on Thursdays and Sundays (Ready to fly? Tickets are available now on Avelo’s website.)
All flights are currently $72.00 one-way Avelo uses new 737-700 jets
Video of the announcement on Facebook Live
Avelo will begin offering nonstop flights from Lakeland to New Haven, Connecticut, starting June 13. Tickets are available for purchase immediately with fares starting at $72 in each direction. Flights will be offered to Tweed New Haven Airport on Thursday and from there to Lakeland on Sunday, according to the Avelo website.
Avelo’s announcement comes three months after it signed a deal with Lakeland officials to bring commercial passenger service to the municipal-owned airport. It will be the first carrier to offer commercial service from Lakeland International in over a decade.
Avelo is an ultra-low-cost carrier that launched out of Houston in April 2021. It had rapidly expanded across the country to more than 48 airports.
In 2023, Avelo reported more than 2.3 million customers traveled on its planes. The carrier’s fleet consists of 16 Boeing 737-700 aircraft that have a single-aisle.
Customers are allowed to bring one free personal item on board but will be charged a fee for carry-on baggage. Passengers can choose priority boarding for $15, but pre-selecting a seat starts at $11 or $39 for a seat with extra legroom.
Tech-savvy travelers can take comfort in changing or canceling their plans online at no extra cost. Any changes that require a call to Avelo’s customer service will incur a $25 fee.
“Lakeland – say hello to Avelo! We’re proud to be the only airline serving LAL and are excited to introduce Lakeland to Avelo’s low fares, travel-friendly convenience, and industry-leading reliability. Getting to Southern Connecticut – the gateway to New England and New York – is now easier than ever,” Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement.
“This exclusive nonstop service will also make exploring Central Florida – and all Lakeland has to offer – a fast and seamless journey for Connecticut visitors. I am grateful to all the airport and community leaders who made this partnership possible. This is just the start of Avelo’s partnership with LAL and Central Florida,” he continued.
As Avelo takes flight at Lakeland Linder, the airline’s various operating fees — terminal use, landing fees, and fuel flowage fees — will be waived under an airport incentive program based on its level of operations for up to two years.
Lakeland officials have agreed to contribute $30,000 a year toward localized marketing of Avelo’s services to potential passengers in Polk County. As a start to this, the city unveiled a new logo for “Lakeland International Airport” earlier this month.
Instead, Lakeland Airport Director Kris Hallstrand said the municipal airport will look to make revenue from increased traffic to related services such as concession and food sales, fees paid by transportation networks companies such as Uber and Lyft picking up passengers, and a percentage of rental car sales as Avis and Budget are poised to move in.