Summary
- Avelo Airlines debuts at Concord-Padgett Airport with full gates, exciting passengers with new flight options to Southern Connecticut.
- Avelo quickly doubled flights to meet demand, introducing convenient travel options from Tweed-New Haven Airport to Charlotte and beyond.
- Avelo’s strategic choice of small airports like Concord-Padgett offers locals efficient travel alternatives and exciting new route possibilities.
Shortly after celebrating its 3rd birthday, Avelo Airlines became the first and only airline offering nonstop service from North Carolina’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA) to Southern Connecticut. The airport is often known as NASCAR’s Airport due to its proximity to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and serves as a base for charter operations and low-cost carriers.
All gates full
The inaugural flight from Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) marks the first time the airport has had different carriers simultaneously occupying both gates. The regional airport has long served as a home to Allegiant Air, with the arrival of Avelo Airlines effectively doubling the number of carriers with commercial scheduled operations at USA.
Avelo revealed in April that it would begin serving the USA from its base in Southern Connecticut with twice weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays. Within weeks, the airline announced that it would double its flights to four times weekly to meet demand with the addition of Mondays and Fridays, starting June 14th.
Related
Avelo Airlines Announces Four New Destinations From Southern Connecticut.
The carrier will introduce the only flights from Connecticut to Knoxville and Florida, alongside routes to Atlanta and Charlotte via Concord-Padgett.
Simple Flying was on hand for the arrival of Avelo’s first flight to Concord-Padgett, which it will use to serve the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. The mood at the airport was excited as flight XP565 touched down roughly 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Disembarking passengers appeared joyous and waved at the assembled press bank below. When asked their thoughts on the flight, which was sold out, passengers described it as quick and easy.
Several passengers commented on the ease of departure from Avelo’s base at Tweed-New Haven Airport in Southern Connecticut. The airport serves as a gateway to Yale University and the wider region and is ever so slightly larger than USA, with three boarding gates to choose from compared to Concord-Padgett’s two.
Quick and simple
The airport hosted a welcoming reception for the arrival of the first flight to coincide with the departure of the first service to Connecticut. Snacks, Avelo-themed cupcakes, and a large cake were provided to departing passengers and assembled members of the local community. Concord Mayor Bill Dusch was on hand to give a few comments, including a cheeky note that Avelo’s Concord-bound flight took off with more passengers than the one heading for Atlanta, which began on the same day. For travelers looking to spend time in the local area, the City of Concord offers the delightful Southern charm one would expect, along with exceptional shopping opportunities at the Concord Mills indoor outlet mall.
Photo: Jonathan E. Hendry | Simple Flying
The choice to use an accessible and small airport was an international choice by the Avelo team. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed exclusively to Simple Flying that the reaction has been very positive, with strong bookings and a lot of demand for a convenient alternative to Charlotte (CLT). While the airport’s patriotic IATA code of USA did not have a significant impact on the airline’s choice of Concord-Padgett as a gateway to the Charlotte region, Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy confirmed the area was a key destination for the carrier:
“We’re excited to introduce The Queen City to Avelo’s low fares, travel-friendly convenience and industry-leading reliability. This exclusive nonstop service will make enjoying Charlotte’s abundance of vibrant urban and outdoor experiences a fast and seamless journey for Connecticut visitors.”
Photo: Jonathan E. Hendry | Simple Flying
While unable to confirm specifics, the airline previously indicated it is exploring several markets in Florida along with Philadelphia/Wilmington, Delaware (ILG) should the initial route perform as expected. The airline has had significant success with other airports in North Carolina, including Wilmington (ILY) and Raleigh-Durham (RDU), where it has established a base.
Local and efficient
Speaking to local residents on multiple occasions, Simple Flying found that travelers enjoy the convenience of reaching and departing from the airport. The area’s other major airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), is one of the busiest in the nation. Conversely, Concord-Padgett features just one integrated passenger parking garage located directly across the street from the main entrance for a seamless plane-to-car experience.
The airport has long been home to Allegiant Airlines. The carrier serves four destinations in Florida from USA: Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Punta Gorda (PGD), Saint Petersburg (PIE), and Orlando-Sanford (SFB). Passengers disembarking from a recent Allegiant flight commented to Simple Flying on the convenience of flying to Florida with Allegiant, the exceptional value of tickets “as low as thirty bucks,” and minimal wait times compared to the area’s other airport.
Photo: Jonathan E. Hendry | Simple Flying
Speaking to Simple Flying at the event, Mayor Dusch confirmed that local travelers were interested in pursuing routes to the Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago areas, as well as additional destinations in Florida.
Have you ever flown out of USA Airport? Let us know in the comments below…
