Budget airline Avelo ends service out of Glacier Park International Airport
JACK UNDERHILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 2 weeks AGO
The inaugural Avelo Airlines flight from Burbank, California taxis under a celebratory water arch at Glacier Park International Airport outside of Kalispell, Montana on Monday May 22, 2023. (Adrian Knowler/Daily Inter Lake)
KALISPELL GOVERNMENT, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION REPORTER Jack Underhill covers Kalispell city government, housing and transportation for the Daily Inter Lake. His reporting focuses on how local policy decisions affect residents and the rapidly growing Flathead Valley. Underhill has reported on housing challenges, infrastructure issues and regional service providers across Montana. His work also includes accountability reporting on complex community issues and public institutions. Originally from Massachusetts, Underhill graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a degree in Journalism before joining the Inter Lake. In his free time, Underhill enjoys mountain biking around the valley, skiing up on Big Mountain or exploring Glacier National Park. IMPACT: Jack’s work helps residents understand how growth, housing and infrastructure decisions affect the future of their community. | July 17, 2025 12:00 AM
Avelo Airlines is pulling out of Glacier Park International Airport, along with a slew of other airports across the West.
Avelo provides seasonal service between the Flathead Valley and two California destinations: Burbank’s Hollywood Burbank Airport to the south and Sonoma’s Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport to the north.
“Despite the investment of significant time, resources and efforts, our West Coast operations have not produced the results necessary to continue our presence there,” said spokesperson Courtney Goff.
The airline will instead focus on expanding East Coast travel.
Avelo pulling out of Glacier Park International Airport means the Flathead Valley transit hub will lose its connection to the Los Angeles area and Central California, said airport Director Rob Ratkowski.
“We’re going to talk to some other low-cost carriers to see if there’s maybe a gap that could be filled there,” he said.
The last flight out of Sonoma will be Aug. 9, and the last flight from Burbank will be Aug. 30, according to Goff. Customers have been notified about the changes to their reservations and their refund options, she wrote in an emailed statement.
The move follows nationwide protests against the airline for entering a long-term charter agreement with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to charter three Boeing 737-800s out of Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona that began in May.
Avelo flew charters under former President Joe Biden’s administration but took on the recent deal so it could provide the financial stability to expand passenger service and keep crewmembers employed.
“Protests nor our contract with DHS had any effect on our decision and have not impacted our business,” Goff said.
Avelo is continuing deportation operations with the federal government out of Mesa Gateway airport.
Avelo launched its first flight from the Hollywood Burbank airport in the Spring of 2021, becoming the first new airline in the U.S. in nearly 15 years, according to the airline. Avelo started flying out of Glacier Park International Airport in May 2023.
Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or [email protected].
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