The airline is one of a dozen carriers who provide deportation flights under contract with the Department of Homeland Security.
Activists in dozens of cities across the nation protested Avelo Airlines on May 31, demanding that it halt deportation flights it is conducting under a $150 million contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Air Operations.
A petition calling for a boycott collected more than 28,000 signatures.
The Coalition to Stop Avelo protests were held at many of the 49 destinations served by the airline, including Rochester, New York; Burbank, California; Daytona Beach, Florida; Eugene and Salem, Oregon, and Wilmington, Delaware.
Protesters say they will “not stop” until Avelo cancels its ICE contract, or “we put them out of business.”
Protests also took place at Jefferies Financial Group headquarters in New York City, where activists demanded “accountability” from financiers backing the small airline.
Avelo, which began deportation-related flights on May 12, is one of more than a dozen airlines that conduct deportation flights, many of which were contracted under the Biden Administration. The airline provides ICE with both domestic and international charter flights aboard three 737-800s.
The budget airline released a statement saying the ICE contract is vital to its financial stability.
“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic,” Avelo CEO Andrew Levy wrote in an email to The Epoch Times.
“After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come.”
The protests are part of a coordinated effort calling for Avelo to end its contract with ICE and for lawmakers to remove incentives for the airline.
“If dozens of cities and states stand together, Avelo will be forced to choose between serving the public and operating illegal flights for ICE,” the movement stated on its website.
In a highly charged political environment, Avelo expressed some concern about threats to the company.
“The safety and well-being of our crewmembers (employees), customers and all individuals involved is our highest priority,” wrote Avelo spokesperson Madison Jones in an email to The Epoch Times.
“While we recognize the right of individuals to peacefully assemble, Avelo’s main priority will continue to be maintaining the safety and timeliness of our operation.”
