Avelo to launch flights from Sonoma County to Salt Lake City, plus another California market

The new flights begin in October, bringing a total of nine destinations Avelo offers from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

Avelo Airlines check-in area on the day the airline announced four new nonstop routes from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport held at the airport’s baggage claim area in Santa Rosa, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. Avelo on July 31, 2024, announced additional routes to Salt Lake City and Ontario in Southern California. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat file)
CHERYL SARFATY
NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL
2 minute read
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Avelo Airlines announced today it will add another two routes to the seven destinations it already services from its base operations at Charles M. Schulz—Sonoma County Airport (airport code STS).

Starting this fall, Avelo will offer nonstop flights to Salt Lake City International Airport and Ontario International Airport in Southern California, according to the airline.

The Ontario flights are set to begin Oct. 10, and service to Salt Lake City will launch Oct. 24, according to Avelo. Both flights will operate Thursdays and Sundays. Reservations can be made at AveloAir.com.

"It’s fantastic to see Avelo continue to expand their commitment to STS with the addition of major markets such as Salt Lake City … and Ontario,” Sonoma County Airport Manager Jon Stout said in the announcement. “These highly requested destinations enhance both the convenience and connectivity of STS, and we look forward to their success."

Also in the announcement, Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, “We are excited to continue growth at our Bay Area base at STS with the addition of two new routes to Ontario and Salt Lake City. As we add more destinations in Sonoma County, we are committed to bringing more convenient, reliable and affordable travel options to the region.”

With the addition of the two routes, Avelo’s service from the Sonoma County airport include Burbank; Las Vegas; Palm Springs; Redmond in central Oregon; Kalispell, Montana; Salem, Oregon; and Boise, Idaho.

The three latter flights started in May in conjunction with the launch of Avelo’s base operations at the regional airport. A fourth flight, to Pasco, Washington, was also added in May, but it was suspended shortly afterward, on June 12, because of poor performance, the Business Journal reported at the time.

The Kalispell and Salem flights haven’t yet done as well as hoped, Stout said earlier this month, but Avelo had given no indication those flights would end.

Avelo has said the Boise service is the strongest of the new markets and that the airline’s existing routes continue to perform well, according to Stout.

Avelo in June flew 16,897 travelers through the Sonoma County airport, up 67.2% from the previous year. Its load factor — the measure of how full airplanes are on average — was 63%.

The airline said Wednesday it is now offering introductory one-way fares for the new flights.

Fares start at $51 for travel between STS and Ontario. The flights must be booked by Aug. 7, and travel completed between Oct. 10 and Oct. 27, 2024, according to the airline.

Fares start at $57 for travel between STS and Salt Lake City. Those flights also must be booked by Aug. 7. Travel must be completed between Oct. 24. and Nov. 10, 2024, according to Avelo.

Full terms and conditions are available at Avelo’s Contract of Carriage.