The City of New Haven and local organizations are calling out Avelo Airlines for its ongoing deportation flights.
Avelo Airline entered into a contract with the Department of Homeland Security in April to conduct deportation flights from Arizona beginning in May.
On July 28, the City of New Haven sent a memo to its employees “prohibiting the use of public funds for any travel on Avelo Airlines.” The memo goes on to say “no city financial resources may be used to promote, market, or partner with Avelo Airlines in any capacity.”
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the memo is about “aligning our values with our taxpayer dollars.”
“The reality is the overwhelming majority of people in our community, documented or undocumented, are doing good things in our community,” Mayor Elicker said.
Elicker said as soon as he became aware of the deportation flights, he asked Avelo’s CEO to end them.
“I called the CEO of Avelo and asked to stop doing that type of activity, to think twice about it because he clearly would impact the Avelo brand and the local market, and unfortunately, they did not change course here.”
Avelo Airlines provided the following statement:
“It is unfortunate the City of New Haven has chosen to direct its employees to not fly Avelo for official travel, due to Avelo’s business decision to operate flights on behalf of the federal government. We hope in the future the City will change its mind. In the meantime, Avelo will continue to provide affordable, convenient and reliable air service to its millions of Customers in Connecticut and throughout the country.”
Courtney Goff, Avelo Airlines
Faxon Law New Haven Road Race, a nonprofit that brings together runners and community members on Labor Day, also cancelled its 3-year sponsorship relationship with the airline.
They provided the following statement:
Avelo has been a partner of the nonprofit race since 2022. The airline’s financial support helped the New Haven Road Race increase their support of local nonprofits and New Haven youth over the last few years. On May 12, Avelo began deportation flights from Phoenix–Mesa Airport, a development that disappointed many board members and triggered public outcry in our local community. Following a unanimous vote, the Board has formally ended the sponsorship relationship. Effective immediately, Avelo Airlines is no longer affiliated with the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race.
John Bysiewicz, JB Sports Event Management
NBC CT confirmed Puerto Ricans United Inc. out of New Haven is the second local organization to end its sponsorship with Avelo.
The Puerto Rican Festival of New Haven will be held Saturday, August 9 on the New Haven Green.
