As Avelo Airlines has extended its Central Florida flight schedule through mid-February 2026, Lakeland travelers might have a hard time booking flights to five cities this fall.
Of the eight routes the low-budget carrier offers out of Lakeland Linder International Airport, five destinations are now seasonal offerings. The following routes are suspended primarily for the months of September and October:
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (code GRR) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is suspended from Sept. 1 to Nov. 7
Islip-MacArthur Airport (code ISP) on Long Island, New York, was suspended from Sept. 1 to Nov. 7
New York’s Greater Rochester International Airport (code ROC) from Sept. 2 to Nov. 6
San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (code SJU) from Sept. 1 to Nov. 19
Courtney Goff, an Avelo Airlines spokeswoman, said these four destinations were all seasonal routes on the airline’s schedule since the beginning of the year.
While the carrier has repeatedly stated its offerings at Lakeland Linder may be adjusted for demand, it did not note that about Grand Rapids or Long Island would be seasonal destinations when the routes were announced in March.
“September and October have lower demand, so those routes take a break and return for peak travel in November and beyond,” Goff said in an email.
To make things more confusing, Avelo announced it was ending its route between Lakeland and North Carolina’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport in late April.
This route makes a comeback from Nov. 21 to Jan. 5, 2026, with flights on Mondays and Fridays.
Larger changes are happening at Avelo
Avelo announced July 14 that it will cease operations at some of its West Coast airports in an effort to refocus its operations.
The airline has faced public criticism for agreeing to provide deportation flights for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Protests started in Lakeland in late May and have continued.
The carrier announced it will stop serving Salem Airport in Oregon as of Aug. 10, leaving the city without commercial airline service, the Statesman Journal reported. Avelo began operations there in October 2023.
They can’t afford to fly planes that aren’t full.
Is so unfortunate there are born American citizens organized to stand against American enterprises that join our government efforts in protecting our security and safety against illegal corrupt criminals threatening our property, our families, and our way of life. Avelo airlines deserve all our support.