Avelo Airlines to Exit Deportation Business Citing Financial, Operational Strain

Avelo Airlines announced this week that it will officially cut ties with the federal government’s deportation efforts, ending its controversial role in conducting charter flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The budget carrier, which became the first and only major commercial airline to participate in the program last year, confirmed it will shutter its base at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona and conclude all involvement in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program by January 27, 2026.

In a statement, Avelo spokesperson Courtney Goff explained that the decision was driven primarily by economic factors rather than political pressure.

“The program provided short-term benefits but ultimately did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue to overcome its operational complexity and costs,” Goff said. The airline indicated that the move is part of a broader strategic pivot to focus on its core commercial passenger service and stabilize its long-term financial position.

Despite the company's focus on the bottom line, the move marks a significant victory for a nationwide grassroots movement. For nearly nine months, groups like Indivisible and the Delaware Stop Avelo Coalition have staged frequent protests and organized boycotts.

These activists targeted the airline’s hubs from Connecticut to Arizona, accusing Avelo of profiting from "human suffering" and "family separation."

The partnership had also drawn fire from within. The Association of Flight Attendants, representing Avelo’s crew, had repeatedly raised safety concerns, alleging that the airline was bypassing FAA regulations to accommodate ICE’s security requirements, such as flying shackled passengers without adequate evacuation training.

While Avelo is withdrawing, the federal government is moving to internalize its logistics. The DHS recently announced plans to purchase its own fleet of Boeing 737s to reduce its reliance on private subcontractors. For Avelo, however, the exit from the deportation business coincides with a period of significant transition. Along with the Mesa closure, the airline is expected to implement layoffs and network changes as it retires older aircraft and prepares for a new order of Embraer 195-E2 jets.