Connecticut AG Warns Avelo Airlines Over Deportation Flights

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has issued a second warning to Avelo Airlines regarding its agreement to conduct deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The warning, sent on April 24, highlights how the airline’s actions jeopardize its tax breaks and support from the state.

The warning follows Avelo’s recent decision to allocate three of its 20 planes to the ICE Air charter network. Tong expressed concerns in an April 8 letter, referencing a ProPublica report addressing the potential safety risks of operating flights with non-violent passengers in shackles and the lack of a safe evacuation plan.

“Can Avelo confirm that it will never operate flights while non-violent passengers are in shackles, handcuffs, waist chains, or leg irons?” he asked. “We expect a safe and timely evacuation strategy for all passengers,” he added in his letters to the airline.

Avelo CEO Andrew Levy defended the decision in an email to employees, calling the deportation contract “too valuable not to pursue.” He indicated that consumer confidence was falling, leading to fewer trips. As part of these changes, Avelo plans to close its Sonoma County, California base and shift certain routes to off-peak days to accommodate the deportation flights starting in May from a hub in Mesa, Arizona.

The airline has a major hub in New Haven, Connecticut, and has extended its services to Bradley International Airport near Hartford. In 2023, Avelo benefited from a two-year fuel-tax moratorium after extensive lobbying efforts from its management.

This controversy has sparked backlash, with nearly 300 participants attending a protest last week, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “Avelo has to change its course,” he stated firmly. “To the president of Avelo: You really stepped in it.”

Public dissent continues to grow, with a petition urging a boycott of Avelo being signed by almost 35,000 individuals since April 6. Protests have erupted in multiple cities, including Eugene, Oregon; Rochester, New York; Burbank, California; and Wilmington, Delaware.

Tong has also requested that Avelo produce a copy of its contract with ICE Air and clarify whether it would comply with deportation orders despite court rulings. This inquiry was sparked by previous deportation flights conducted by another airline, GlobalX, following a federal judge’s ruling.

In response, Avelo suggested that Connecticut file a public records request for details on the ICE Air contract and direct other inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration. Despite these controversies, Avelo maintains its commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

<p“The airline remains committed to public safety and the rule of law,” an Avelo spokesperson stated. The future of Avelo's tax breaks remains uncertain as the expiration date approaches on June 30, with no current legislative measures proposed to extend them.