Avelo Airlines Dumps Bradley: What Happened?

Avelo and Spirit Bail on Bradley: Who's Surprised?

So, Avelo's pulling out of Bradley International Airport (BDL) in January 2026. And Spirit's already gone, right? End of October. Color me shocked. Actually, no, don't color me anything. I saw this coming a mile away.

This whole thing smells fishier than week-old sushi. Avelo claims revenues weren't covering costs. Okay, fine. But then the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) is all butthurt about the Montego Bay route getting axed, claiming it had "strong ridership, subsidies, airport incentives, and community support." Which is it, guys? Are people flying or aren't they? Someone's lying.

And the CAA won't let Avelo off the hook for rent. Tough luck, I guess. They wanted a free ride after a year of rent-free operation. Give me a break. It's always "poor little airline" until they're raking in profits hand over fist. Then suddenly, we're all supposed to forget about the bailouts and tax breaks.

The Jamaica Debacle

The nonstop service to Montego Bay was the state’s ONLY one. Now it's gone. The CAA is "especially disappointed on behalf of the community." Oh, please. Spare me the performative outrage. They're acting like they didn't see this coming. Did they really think Avelo was in it for the long haul? Or were they too busy patting themselves on the back for securing the route in the first place?

The CAA understands Avelo’s financial distress, they say. Uh-huh. And I understand the distress of having to pay $7 for a lukewarm cup of coffee at the airport. But that doesn't mean I get a free pass. Maybe if they focused less on "community support" and more on, I dunno, making the airport a place people actually want to fly from...

Bradley's got a $250 million infrastructure update going on. New exit corridors, TSA screening lanes, the whole shebang. Great. So, we're making the airport nicer as airlines are fleeing. Makes perfect sense.

Spirit's Ghost

Let's not forget Spirit Airlines, who are already dipped out because of their Chapter 11 restructuring. A Bradley Airport spokesperson said there would be no loss of nonstop routes because other airlines would pick up the slack. Really? Because it sounds like the opposite is happening. Fewer flights, higher prices, and the same old airport headaches.

Maybe I'm wrong offcourse. Maybe the CAA has a secret plan to lure in a fleet of shiny new airlines. But forgive me if I'm not holding my breath. Airlines are about as loyal as stray cats. They'll go where the food is, and if Bradley ain't serving up what they want, they're outta here.

So, What's the Real Story?

Honestly, this whole thing is a clown show. The CAA can whine all they want about "inexplicable" decisions and broken promises, but at the end of the day, they're the ones left holding the bag. And the passengers? They're stuck with fewer options and the nagging feeling that they're getting played. Welcome to the wonderful world of air travel, folks. Enjoy your flight.