Exclusive one-on-one with Avelo Airlines CEO on expanding to Bradley International Airport

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Avelo Airlines announced a major expansion Wednesday morning. Starting this November, the airline will offer roundtrip services to five domestic and two international destinations from Bradley International Airport .

From Bradley, Avelo will fly to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cancun, Mexico; Houston, Charlotte and Wilmington, North Carolina; and Lakeland and Daytona Beach, Florida.

In an exclusive one-on-one interview, News 8’s Dennis House spoke with Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy about Wednesday’s announcement. Watch the interview in the video player below.

Avelo will introduce the new domestic and international routes , which will operate twice a week, as follows:

• Charlotte/Concord, NC (USA) – Starting Nov. 7
• Wilmington, NC (ILM) – Starting Nov. 7
• Houston, TX (HOU) – Starting Nov. 8
• Daytona Beach, FL (DAB) – Starting Nov. 8
• Orlando/Lakeland, FL (LAL) – Starting Nov. 8
• Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) – Starting Nov. 16
• Cancun, Mexico (CUN) – Starting Nov. 20

“We have a West Indian population that has contributed so much to this city, to this region, to this economy,” Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam (D) said. “This connection broadens a deep and heartfelt connection between Hartford and Jamaica.”

Levy said these flights will create about 80 jobs at Bradley.

“We’re going to be there for the long term,” he said. “We’re going to have pilots, flight attendants, aircraft technicians, mechanics and the folks that help our customers.”

Levy said a 2023 state law that pauses jet fuel tax for two years is a big reason why they were able to expand.

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said Avelo first approached his office a year and a half ago asking to lower the tax – promising international flights.

“Sometimes you’re never quite sure when an entity or business says that to you if they’re actually going to do that, or is it going to go to shareholders or the bottom line,” Ritter said. “Here we are, true to their word.”

The governor said there are now about 60 flight destinations from Connecticut—double the number from five years ago.

“This is two-way traffic; we get to go to Jamaica, and a lot of people come up, come to the state from all over the country,” Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) said. “Every business I talk to says it’s easy to get in and out of Connecticut, and it’s getting easier every day.”

Travelers can book their flights now .

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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