Avelo Airlines to Depart California After Deportation Flight Backlash

[Photo by Joe Scarnic iGetty Images for Avelo Air]

Mixed Reactions in Humboldt as Budget Carrier Cites Business Struggles, Not Politics

Avelo Airlines will end service to the California Redwood Coast–Humboldt County Airport (ACV) and exit the entire West Coast market by the end of 2025. The decision comes just months after public outcry over the airline’s contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to operate deportation flights—but Avelo maintains the move is financial, not political.

The airline’s last flight out of Humboldt is scheduled for December 2, according to a July 14 press release from the County of Humboldt. The airline will also close its base at Hollywood Burbank Airport, eliminating routes across California, including those from Sonoma County and Redding.

Courtney Goff, a spokesperson for Avelo, wrote in a statement to the county that “there is rarely one singular reason why decisions like this are made,” but emphasized that “our West Coast operations have not produced the results necessary to continue our presence there.”

Deportation Flight Contract Ignites Boycott Campaign

In April, Avelo revealed that it had signed a contract to operate deportation flights through ICE Air, based in Mesa, Arizona. Flights under the contract began on May 12. The backlash was swift.

A coalition of advocacy groups launched StopAvelo.org, urging travelers, cities, and communities to boycott the airline. “Avelo Airlines is partnering with ICE to run deportation flights that violate due process rights,” the website states. “Cities that fund Avelo—even indirectly—are supporting these inhumane and illegal operations.”

Local organizations including Humboldt Democracy Connections and the North Coast chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America joined the call. Banners reading “Avelo Flies 4 ICE” appeared on overpasses along U.S. Highway 101. At a packed Eureka City Council meeting on July 9, more than a dozen* speakers urged the city to sever ties with the airline.

Councilmember Kati Moulton said continuing to use Avelo was “not only morally irresponsible, but economically irresponsible as well,” according to an article by Lost Coast Outpost, adding, “The campaign of terror is being waged against the innocent Latino community.” The council voted unanimously to prohibit city staff from using Avelo for official travel.

Mayor Kim Bergel acknowledged the boycott might not financially damage the airline but said, “I think it makes a huge difference to our community—a huge difference.”

Ridership Data Shows No Clear Boycott Impact

ACV Stats for Avelo and United flights highlighting passenger counts leaving (enplanement) and landing (deplanement) at ACV by airline, and the percentage of seats filled. [Data from Humboldt County compiled by Lisa Music]

In April 2025—the month the deportation contract was announced—Avelo’s load factor (the percentage of seats filled) hit 90%, its highest of the year. While it dipped slightly in May to 84%, it rose again to 88% in June. United Airlines, the only other carrier at ACV, had slightly lower load factors in that same period.

This suggests that, while the boycott may have influenced public discourse and local politics, it did not significantly depress demand for Avelo’s flights in and out of Humboldt County.

Local Family Faces Steep Costs After Service Ends

Doug Culbert of Fortuna says his family is among those who will be directly impacted. His wife Jennifer, who has stage four breast cancer, receives treatment every few months at City of Hope in Southern California. After a previous provider stopped covering travel, Avelo’s low-cost flights became their most viable option.

“We were getting round-trip tickets for 50 bucks when they first started out,” Doug said in an interview. “Both of us flying for $100.” Though the promotional prices are no longer available, the Culberts usually pay between $250 to $350 for the two to fly from Arcata to Burbank. United tickets for the same trip are around $950, Doug said—an average increase of over $600 per visit.

He explained that they can’t wait for last-minute deals or adjust their plans to chase lower prices. Jennifer’s appointments are scheduled well in advance, so the family has to book flights that match her medical schedule.

The family estimates their annual travel expenses will rise by $2,400 to $3,000 once Avelo pulls out.

“I totally support people’s right to boycott,” Doug said, “but they don’t realize that people do have needs for low-budget flights. You’ve got to realize… it’s not just Avelo that you’re affecting, you’re affecting people like Jennifer and me.”

Toll on Humboldt County: Connectivity, Costs, and Uncertainty

Avelo’s departure carries implications not just for individual travelers but for Humboldt County’s overall connectivity and economic vitality.

When Avelo launched service to Humboldt in 2021, it opened up a long-missing direct route to Burbank—connecting the North Coast to Southern California without layovers in San Francisco or Denver. It also briefly offered a Las Vegas route. These flights attracted tourists, facilitated easier business travel, and provided locals with affordable options.

In a 2023 press release, then-County Aviation Director Cody Roggatz noted that Avelo’s Burbank route had been one of its “strongest performers,” and that the airport is seeing record passenger numbers. “We appreciate Avelo’s partnership and investment in our community,” he said.

But with Avelo gone, those connections disappear. According to ACV records, in the last eighteen months, Avelo has filled 77,245 seats flying, into and out of, Humboldt County. For the near future, United remains the only airline serving Humboldt. The major U.S. carrier currently accounts for just over 75% of passengers at ACV; however, with Avelo’s departure, fewer routes and less competition are expected to drive up prices—impacting families, government budgets, and tourism alike.

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell acknowledged the concern, saying the County is prioritizing the search for a new low-cost carrier. “We are committed to ensuring access to affordable, reliable air service,” she said. However, no replacement has been announced.

A Complex Exit with Moral Weight

In the end, Avelo’s departure lands at the intersection of economics, ethics, and access.

For those behind the boycott, the airline’s exit is seen as a consequence of public pressure and a reaffirmation of local values. “They took the ICE contract out of desperation—and now it’s backfiring,” said Matthew Boulay of the Stop Avelo Coalition in an interview with KLCC. “Passengers and cities want nothing to do with them.” Critics of Avelo’s deportation flights argued the flights were incompatible with a humane and just community.

Others, like Doug Culbert, say the fallout is painfully real. “I understand people have strong political beliefs,” he said, emphasizing that when people campaign to remove budget options like this, they may not realize how deeply it affects those who rely on affordable air travel for essential needs like medical care.

For Humboldt County, Avelo’s final flight in December will mark more than just the end of a route. It will close a chapter in the region’s efforts to connect—and confront—what it means to fly ethically and affordably in a deeply divided time.

Note: This article was edited after publication for clarity.

*Note: This article was edited after publication to correct the number of speakers at the Eureka City Council meeting to over a dozen commenters (17) instead of the previously printed “over two dozen.” Our apologies for the error.