KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — West Michiganders hoping to spend some time in Florida this winter will have a new way to get there, for a bargain.
Avelo Airlines, an Ultra low cost carrier launched it’s maiden flight from Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International airport direct to Orlando on Wednesday, October 26.
Airline Spokesman Travis Christ says they will have two flight’s weekly. He went onto say they saw the opportunity and swooped in to fill a need.
“It is connecting smaller airports like Kalamazoo that still have a lot of people around here that are used to driving and making one or two connections, but flying on a big jet at low fares,” said Christ who stressed that they too have been hit by manpower shortages and high fuel prices, but not as hard as the big carriers.
“It prevents sometimes some of the growth we’d like to have, but because our costs are so low and our services have been so popular, our revenue side is very good, where the planes are quite full in most cases.”
Airport Director Craig Williams says they welcome the business. He went onto say that the local air terminal, (Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport) is still recovering from the Pandemic, operating four flights daily from 11 before the pandemic hit.
“As the network carriers, the legacy carriers are re-shifting their strategies, having something that comes in and gives us a non-stop flight is, it’s wonderful,” said Williams.
The first passengers were greeted by company officials, a band, cake, and free promotional items as they prepared to board the 737.
Avelo Airlines operates out of 32 airports across the nation and have flown 10,000 flights since spring of last year, transporting 1.3 million passengers.
Anyone wishing to book a flight should go online at the Avelo website at aveloair.com.
Flights out of Kalamazoo are scheduled for Mondays and Fridays.
(Reporting by John McNeill)
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