Avelo Airlines is an American ultra-low-cost airline headquartered in Houston, Texas, founded in 2021 by aviation executive Andrew Levy. The airline offers Customers nonstop service at secondary airports in major metropolitan areas across the United States, Puerto Rico with everyday low fares.
Aviation Bizz : As Avelo Airlines continues to strengthen its position in the low-cost aviation segment, what is your long-term leadership vision for building a sustainable and customer-focused airline?
Courtney Goff : Our long-term vision is centered on our purpose to “Inspire Travel” by making air travel more affordable, convenient, reliable, and caring. We believe sustainable growth comes from maintaining a disciplined network, operating efficiently, investing in our Crewmembers, and continuously improving the customer experience. Our values of “Safety Always,” “Keep It Simple,” “Do the Right Thing,” and “One Crew” provide the foundation for how we make decisions and serve our Customers.
AB : Avelo has successfully differentiated itself by serving secondary airports in major cities. What strategic principles guide your network planning and business decisions in an increasingly competitive aviation market?
CG : Our strategy is built around providing Customers with convenient access to airports that are often closer to their homes and destinations and easier to navigate than larger airports. We carefully evaluate market demand, operating economics, airport convenience, competitive dynamics, and our ability to provide nonstop service. This approach a lows us to create meaningful connectivity while maintaining a simple and efficient operating model.
AB : With evolving passenger expectations and industry dynamics, how do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across the organization?
CG : Innovation at Avelo is closely connected to our commitment to keeping travel simple and improving the Customer experience. We encourage our Crewmembers to take ownership of the experience they provide and to identify opportunities to improve processes. Our recent digital initiatives, customer programs, fleet strategy, and operational improvements demonstrate how we combine innovation with practical solutions that deliver measurable value.
AB : Avelo has expanded its route network and strengthened its operational footprint in recent years. What are the company’s key priorities for domestic and potential international expansion over the next five years?
CG : Our immediate priority is disciplined and sustainable growth within our core markets. In 2026, we are focusing on five core bases, including the planned North Dallas base at McKinney National Airport. We are also expanding connectivity to new destinations such as Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Looking further ahead, our fleet strategy, including our order for up to 100 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, provides a platform for continued growth.
AB : Your recent network optimization and fleet strategy reflect a long-term growth approach. How will these initiatives enhance operational efficiency and future profitability?
CG : Network optimization allows us to concentrate resources where we see the strongest opportunities for sustainable growth. We are simplifying our network around core bases while transitioning toward a fleet primarily consisting of Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the near term. At the same time, our future E195-E2 fleet will provide additional flexibility as we expand into markets where aircraft size and economics need to be carefully matched to demand.
AB : As regional air connectivity continues to grow, what new market opportunities do you foresee for Avelo Airlines in underserved destinations?
CG : We see significant opportunities in markets where Customers want nonstop connectivity but currently have limited choices. Our recent additions of Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Aguadilla demonstrate our willingness to identify markets where Avelo can provide unique or exclusive nonstop service. We will continue evaluating markets based on Customer demand, airport convenience, route economics, and our ability to deliver reliable service.
AB : Avelo is recognized for offering affordable fares while maintaining reliable service. How do you balance cost efficiency with delivering an exceptional passenger experience?
CG : Our philosophy is that affordability and a caring experience should complement each other. We simplify the travel process, operate from convenient airports, offer everyday low fares, and focus strongly on operational reliability. At the same time, our Crewmembers are empowered to take ownership of the Customer experience, which helps us provide personal and caring service without unnecessarily increasing complexity or cost.
AB : Customer expectations continue to evolve with digital convenience and personalized services. What new initiatives is Avelo introducing to further enhance passenger satisfaction?
CG : We are continuing to expand digital tools that make booking, managing trips, accessing rewards, and interacting with Avelo easier. The Avelo mobile app provides Customers with convenient access to bookings, check-in, profiles, and Avelo Cash. We have also introduced Avelo PLUS and our new Avelo Airlines World Elite Mastercard, creating additional opportunities for Customers to receive benefits and personalized value.
AB : What role does customer feedback play in shaping future service improvements and strengthening brand loyalty across your network?
CG : Customer feedback is an important component of our continuous-improvement process. We monitor customer satisfaction and engagement while listening to feedback across the travel journey. Our objective is to identify areas where we can make travel simpler, more convenient, and more reliable. Programs such as Avelo PLUS and our digital initiatives are examples of how we are responding to evolving Customer expectations.
AB : Safety remains the cornerstone of the aviation industry. How does Avelo ensure the highest operational safety standards while expanding its route network and fleet?
CG : Safety is fundamental to everything we do and is explicitly reflected in our “Safety Always” value. Our safety and operational teams oversee compliance, training, maintenance, flight operations, security, and operational performance. As we grow our network and fleet, we remain committed to ensuring that expansion never compromises our safety culture or operational standards.
AB : Operational reliability has become a key competitive advantage for airlines. What systems and best practices help Avelo maintain strong on-time performance and service consistency?
CG : Operational reliability is the result of disciplined planning, strong teamwork, effective maintenance, crew coordination, and close monitoring of operational performance. Our 2025 results placed Avelo among the top three U.S. airlines for on-time performance and flight cancellation rate, demonstrating the strength of this operational focus. We remain committed to continuously improving these results.
AB : How are advanced maintenance practices, crew training, and operational analytics contributing to greater efficiency and long-term operational excellence?
CG : Maintenance discipline, highly trained Crewmembers, operational monitoring, and data-driven decision-making are all essential to reliability. We use operational performance information to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure resources are deployed effectively. As our fleet evolves, maintaining strong technical and operational processes will remain critical to supporting safe and reliable growth.
AB : Digital transformation is reshaping every aspect of aviation. How is Avelo leveraging emerging technologies to streamline operations and enhance the overall customer journey?
CG : Digital transformation is helping us simplify interactions with Customers while improving operational efficiency. Our mobile application enables Customers to book flights, check in, manage trips, and access their accounts digitally. We are also investing in digital-first loyalty and financial technology, including our Avelo Airlines World Elite Mastercard, which integrates rewards and benefits more seamlessly into the Customer journey.
AB : With the growing use of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and automation, which digital innovations do you believe will have the greatest impact on airline operations over the coming years?
CG : Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics have significant potential across revenue management, customer personalization, disruption management, maintenance planning, and operational decision-making. We are particularly interested in technologies that can turn real-time information into practical actions. Our digital-first credit-card platform, for example, enables real-time activity tracking and can leverage AI-powered personalization to improve customer engagement.
AB : Avelo has introduced new digital travel and loyalty solutions. How do these technological advancements strengthen customer engagement and operational efficiency?
CG : Our objective is to make the Customer relationship more convenient and relevant. The Avelo app gives Customers greater control over their travel information, while Avelo PLUS and our new credit-card technology provide additional rewards and benefits. The digital-first approach also gives Avelo greater flexibility to understand Customer behavior and continuously optimize our offerings.
AB : Fleet modernization plays a significant role in sustainable aviation. How will your evolving fleet strategy contribute to lower operating costs and environmental impact?
CG : Fleet efficiency is an important consideration in our long-term strategy. In the near term, our fleet is being simplified around the Boeing 737-800, while our future introduction of the Embraer E195-E2 will provide another highly efficient aircraft platform. The E195-E2 is particularly important because it will give Avelo additional flexibility to match aircraft capacity with market demand while supporting efficient operations.
AB : Avelo recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with significant operational and customer milestones. Which recent achievements make you most proud, and how do they reflect the company’s long-term vision?
CG : Reaching our fifth anniversary is a significant achievement because Avelo became the first new U.S. airline in nearly 15 years when we began operations in April 2021. Since then, we have flown more than 10 million Customers, operated nearly 80,000 flights, established nearly 60 routes, and grown to more than 1,100 Crewmembers. These milestones demonstrate that affordability, convenience, reliability, and caring service can create a strong foundation for sustainable airline growth.
AB : Looking ahead, are there any upcoming partnerships, fleet developments, service innovations, or strategic initiatives that passengers and industry stakeholders can look forward to?
CG : Avelo is expanding with its fifth base at McKinney National Airport in November 2026 and plans to introduce up to 100 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft in 2028, becoming the first U.S. airline to operate the type. The airline will also continue investing in technology, Customer experience, and reliable growth.
AB : The aviation industry is undergoing rapid transformation through digitalization, sustainability, and changing travel patterns. What major trends do you believe will define the industry’s future?
CG : We believe the future of aviation will be shaped by affordability, reliability, digital convenience, aircraft efficiency, and greater personalization. Customers increasingly expect airlines to make travel easier from booking through arrival. At the same time, airlines must become more efficient and responsive while investing in technologies and aircraft that support long-term operational and environmental performance.
AB : As low-cost carriers continue to reshape regional connectivity, what opportunities and challenges do you anticipate for airlines serving secondary and underserved airports?
CG : Secondary and underserved airports provide a major opportunity to create convenient nonstop connectivity while reducing the time and complexity associated with larger airports. The challenge is ensuring that each market has sufficient demand and sustainable economics. Avelo’s experience demonstrates that carefully selected routes can provide strong value to communities while giving Customers a more convenient alternative to traditional airport options.
AB : Looking ahead, what strategic capabilities will airlines need to remain resilient and competitive in an increasingly dynamic global aviation landscape?
CG : Airlines will need strong operational discipline, financial resilience, technology capabilities, flexible fleets, talented Crewmembers, and a deep understanding of Customers. The ability to adapt quickly will be particularly important as demand patterns, technology, fuel economics, and competitive conditions evolve. For Avelo, disciplined network planning and a flexible fleet strategy will remain central to sustainable growth.
AB : Avelo recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with significant operational and customer milestones. Which recent achievements make you most proud, and how do they reflect the company’s long-term vision?
CG : Reaching our fifth anniversary is a significant achievement because Avelo became the first new U.S. airline in nearly 15 years when we began operations in April 2021. Since then, we have flown more than 9.3 million Customers, operated more than 74,000 flights, established nearly 60 routes, and grown to more than 1,000 Crewmembers. These milestones demonstrate that affordability, convenience, reliability, and caring service can create a strong foundation for sustainable airline growth.
AB : Looking ahead, are there any upcoming partnerships, fleet developments, service innovations, or strategic initiatives that passengers and industry stakeholders can look forward to?
CG : Avelo is expanding with its fifth base at McKinney National Airport in late 2026 and plans to introduce up to 100 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, becoming the first U.S. airline to operate the type. The airline will also continue investing in technology, customer experience, and reliable growth.
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