Summary
- Avelo Airlines is establishing a new operational base for its Boeing 737 fleet at Sonoma County Airport.
- The airline plans to hire up to 50 crewmembers for the new facility, emphasizing growth and expansion.
- With over 300,000 customers in the past three years, the airport plays an important role in Avelo's network.
On 30 January 2024, low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines announced that it would be establishing a new operational base for its Boeing 737 fleet at the California Bay Area's Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS). At the airport, the airline plans to open a new base for two narrowbody aircraft and will hire up to 50 crewmembers to service this new facility.
Today's announcement comes on the heels of the carrier's addition of new flights to Las Vegas from STS in the coming weeks, primarily to provide increased capacity for San Francisco 49ers fans headed to the city for Super Bowl LVIII. The airline has also launched an extension of its summer schedule through 11 June, which will include a number of flights from Sonoma County.
Avelo, which has grown rapidly throughout the past calendar year, continues to seek out expansion, and, as a result, few are surprised by the opening of the new base. The airline has served STS for three years now and the base is scheduled to open on 1 May.
Get all the latest aviation news right here on Simple Flying!
An exciting announcement
Avelo Airlines is very excited about the potential its newest operational base will have. The carrier also believes that the facility will allow it to continue providing low fares, convenience, and reliability to the region since its first flights from STS in April 2021.
With more than 300,000 customers passing through the airport's doors and onto Avelo flights in the past three years, the destination undeniably plays an important role in the airline's network. The carrier's offerings at the facility have also grown over the years, operating 16 weekly flights during the peak travel months.
Avelo Airlines Launches PayPal Partnership For Ticket Purchases
The airline is the first US carrier to offer PayPal’s buy now, pay later option.The airline's leadership team was quick to relay its excitement at today's announcement. In a statement, Avelo's founder, chairman, and CEO, Andrew Levy, had the following words to share:
"We are very excited about the platform for growth the airport offers Avelo, and the meaningful employment and economic impact our investment will bring to the region. Avelo expects to employ as many as 50 Crewmembers at STS when the base opens in May. This includes Pilots, Flight Attendants and Aviation Maintenance Technicians."
Sonoma County Airport
The airport, which first opened in June 1942 as Santa Rosa Army Air Field, has a long and cherished history. The first few carriers to serve the airport included Pacific Air Lines, Air West, and Hughes Airwest, which mostly operated Douglas DC-3 and Fairchild F-27 flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to the facility's official website.
Today, three airlines serve the airport, including Alaska Airlines and American Eagle, alongside Avelo. American Eagle provides service to its hubs in Phoenix and Dallas, while Alaska flies up and down the West Coast to six destinations.
Avelo likely has the facility's most unique service offerings, including year-round flights to Burbank, Las Vegas, and Bend. The carrier also operates seasonal services from Sonoma County to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). According to statistics published by the airport, Avelo maintains the second-largest market share at STS, with just over 20% of passenger traffic in 2023.