Avelo Airlines has significantly increased its flights out of Lakeland International Airport and now is looking to grow its physical presence there.
On Monday, Lakeland commissioners are being asked to approve the purchase of two prefabricated, modular office buildings for Avelo’s use at the cost of $277,523.60.
“We’re required to provide a certain amount of leased space for Avelo to accommodate their operations at the airport,” Deputy City Manager Rob Hernandez said at Friday’s morning agenda study.
Avelo gave the city notice in August of its need for exclusive-use facilities. Under the contract signed between Lakeland and the airline in December 2023, the city is required to provide a 3,500-square-foot maintenance storage facility, a 500-square-foot maintenance office, and an 850-square-foot operations office for its use.
Kris Hallstrand, Lakeland’s airport director, said Avelo’s number of employees at the airport has dramatically increased with the growing number of flights, estimating it has about 40 staff members at times.
These temporary modular offices for Avelo are likely to be in place for ideally about five years as the city works on expanding the airport, Hallstrand said.
Hallstrand said the terminal master plan work has started as the airport’s stakeholders are being contacted for their input on potential future needs.
Hallstrand suggested the city could resell the modular office buildings in the future once construction of an airport expansion is complete.