GOV. LAMONT: CHECK AVELO AIRLINES "BAGGAGE"!

WE REPRESENT CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS who are concerned that Avelo Airlines, which claims HALF of its business from Connecticut travelers, is flying potentially unlawful deportation flights for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with no serious pushback from the state government that gave them tax incentives and revenue guarantees worth over $3,000,000. 

Avelo’s CEO Andrew Levy has said publicly that he made the decision to partner with DHS because “this new opportunity was too valuable not to pursue”, even though by 2022 the airline reported they had received $160 million in investment from Morgan Stanley, which Mr. Levy said at the time “bolsters our already strong balance sheet”. Even though he paints out the name of his airline on those deportation planes, he is not afraid to say out loud that he is profiting from the flights’ cruelty and unlawfulness. 

In April, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong sent Mr. Levy a letter asking for assurances that every individual Avelo is transporting has valid deportation orders (a right affirmed by SCOTUS), that children and other non-violent individuals are not shackled (as requested by Avelo’s own flight attendants) and that no deportations will take place from Connecticut airports. This seems a reasonable request. However, Avelo’s response was, in AG Tong’s words, “totally unacceptable”. 

WE URGE Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to release a public statement demanding that Avelo provide the assurances AG Tong requested and that if the requested assurances are not given, all Connecticut state subsidies given Avelo be withdrawn and that the airline no longer be allowed to use Tweed and Bradley airports for any flights.