Flying south for the winter?
Avelo Airlines adds 6th destination to Florida at Tweed-new Haven
Avelo Airlines, the fledgling air carrier that is making Tweed-new Haven Airport its first East Coast hub, is adding Sarasota as a sixth, nonstop destination to Florida as the airline prepares to launch its first flights from Tweed on Nov. 3.
The nonstop flights to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will begin Jan. 13 and will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, the airline announced Thursday.
The airline is offering limited, introductory one-way fares starting at $49 that must be booked by Nov. 4. The introductory fare is offered on a limited number of flights and seats and does not include other fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other services.
The addition of a sixth destination comes as Avelo moves closer to the launch of flights to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa in two weeks.
Avelo is investing $1.2 million to help upgrade and modernize the terminal at Tweed, part of an expected $100 million expansion at Tweed. The expansion, expected to unfold over the next few years, will include a new terminal and longer runway.
“With our very low fares and [Tweed’s] unmatched convenience, we hope to inspire our Connecticut customers to visit all six Florida destinations Avelo serves,” Andrew Levy, Avelo’s chairman and chief executive, said, in a release.
The flights to Sarasota will depart Tweed at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, arriving in Florida at 5:10 p.m. On Thursday and Sunday, the flight will take off at 3:55 p.m. and land at 7:05 p.m.
Return flights on Tuesday will depart Sarasota at 5:50 p.m. and arrive at Tweed at 8:40 p.m. On Thursday and Sunday, Avelo will leave Sarasota at 7:45 p.m. and arrive in New Haven at 10:35 p.m.
Avelo said the service to Sarasota will be on a single-class, 147-seat Boeing Next Generation 737-700 aircraft.
The announcement of the new destination comes less than a month after American Airlines canceled its daily, nonstop service from the airport.