Low-Cost Airline To Pull Out Of CA

BURBANK, CA — Budget carrier Avelo Airlines will close its base at the Hollywood Burbank Airport and cease all West Coast operations by the end of the year, according to reports.

Texas-based Avelo will cut the number of Los Angeles County planes to one in about a month before closing the base Dec. 2, KTLA reported, adding California-based workers will be able to transfer to one of the airline’s East Coast hubs and passengers with existing flights can get a refund.

The move comes amid objections to the airline’s decision to run deportation flights under a federal contract, according to Reuters, which reported the airline said its choice to close the West Coast base was unrelated to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security contract and calls for a company boycott. The deportation flights operated out of Arizona, KTLA reported.

“We believe the continuation of service from [Hollywood Burbank Airport] in the current operating environment will not deliver adequate financial returns in a highly competitive backdrop,” CEO Andrew Levy said, according to KTLA.