I perceive this route addition gained’t be attention-grabbing to the typical particular person, although as somebody who has lived in Florida for many of my life, I discover this to be fairly noteworthy (and as I’ll clarify beneath, there’s a particular purpose I’m intrigued by this).
Avelo Airways provides New Haven to Lakeland route
US extremely low price service Avelo Airways is including a brand new route between New Haven, Connecticut (HVN) and Lakeland, Florida (LAL). As of June 13, 2024, the airline might be including a 2x weekly flight between the 2 airports, working on Thursdays and Sundays with the next schedule:
XP401 New Haven to Lakeland departing 8:00AM arriving 11:00AM
XP402 Lakeland to New Haven departing 11:40AM arriving 2:25PM
The 1,051-mile flight is blocked at 3hr southbound and 2hr45min northbound, and might be operated by a Boeing 737-700.
For these not acquainted, Lakeland is positioned between Tampa and Orlando (a bit nearer to the previous than the latter), that are after all two massive inhabitants facilities in Florida. What’s most enjoyable about this new route is that that is the primary industrial service that Lakeland Airport has seen in over a decade.
Not solely that, however remember the fact that Avelo turned New Haven again right into a industrial airport, as no different airways fly there. So Avelo deserves big credit score for fairly actually creating new markets.
Right here’s how Avelo Airways CEO Andrew Levy describes this new route:
“Lakeland – say hiya to Avelo! We’re proud to be the one airline serving LAL and are excited to introduce Lakeland to Avelo’s low fares, travel-friendly comfort, and industry-leading reliability. Attending to Southern Connecticut – the gateway to New England and New York – is now simpler than ever. This unique nonstop service will even make exploring Central Florida – and all Lakeland has to supply – a quick and seamless journey for Connecticut guests. I’m grateful to all of the airport and group leaders who made this partnership attainable. That is simply the beginning of Avelo’s partnership with LAL and Central Florida.”
Will industrial service to Lakeland succeed?
I grew up in Tampa, and have been obsessive about planes since a younger age. As an introvert, I by no means actually loved summer season camps, with one exception. One summer season, I went to an aviation camp of kinds at Lakeland Airport (Solar ‘n Enjoyable), which I loved tremendously. So it’s cool to suppose that this airport will quickly have industrial service.
Now, I’m very curious to see how this route evolves. On this case you’re connecting a small, largely unknown airport, with one other small airport (although because of Avelo’s presence in New Haven, the airport is getting extra consideration).
The argument in favor of flying to Lakeland is that it “provides vacationers a refreshingly small, straightforward, and quick different hometown airport expertise to the a lot bigger and busier airports within the area,” and that its “location alongside the I-4 hall makes it essentially the most travel-friendly gateway to and from Central Florida.”
Whereas I really like Avelo experimenting on this market, I can’t assist however marvel about how profitable this might be:
- Avelo additionally flies from New Haven to Tampa and Orlando, so this supplies service to yet one more airport within the area
- Neither Tampa nor Orlando have airports which can be at capability, so the airline might merely add extra flights there
- The inhabitants within the fast neighborhood of Lakeland isn’t big, to not point out that for the folks within the space trying to journey, odds are that New Haven isn’t the vacation spot they’re searching for
- With simply twice weekly flights, there’s not a lot schedule flexibility; moreover, since many individuals might want to hire a automotive from Lakeland, it gained’t be sensible for many to do a one-way rental and return it at one other airport, as that’s typically dearer, negating any financial savings
So I’m struggling to determine the gross sales pitch right here. Nevertheless, I think about the airline has two major motivations right here:
- I think about Avelo is getting some incentives from the airport and local people, so prices will most likely be a bit decrease than a flight to Tampa or Orlando
- Perhaps Avelo is testing out the airport, and is contemplating making a hub in Lakeland much like the one which it has created in New Haven, the place it has no competitors, and appears to be doing properly
However what’s the pitch to the typical particular person trying to journey to or from Tampa or Orlando? Avelo has low cost fares in nearly all markets, so how do you entice somebody to fly to or from Lakeland, slightly than the close by airports?
It’s one factor if this service have been from the regional subsidiary of a legacy airline, the place the native demand instantly across the airport might most likely maintain the flight with connections across the nation and globe. However for a point-to-point route like this, the motive is a bit much less clear.
Backside line
Avelo Airways might be launching a brand new route from its New Haven hub, to Lakeland. This would be the first time in over a decade that Lakeland sees industrial flights, in order that’s enjoyable. On prime of that, it’s cool to contemplate that New Haven didn’t even have industrial service a couple of years in the past. You’ve gotta give Avelo credit score for its creativity.
What do you make of Avelo’s plans to fly to Lakeland?
