Avelo Airlines Expands Fleet at Concord-Padgett Airport, Closes 2 Other NC Bases

Avelo Airlines will add a third aircraft at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport in Cabarrus County. This move supports more flights when spring and summer arrive. The Houston-based budget carrier made the announcement after a recapitalization that strengthened its finances.

More than 75 workers based in Concord will benefit. The carrier plans to swap out 149-seat Boeing models for bigger 189-seat planes at the airport.

Flights between Concord and Albany, New York, will become more frequent. Nonstop routes will keep running to Lakeland/Orlando, Florida; New Haven, Connecticut; New York/Long Island; Rochester, New York; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

How much money the carrier is putting into Concord-Padgett remains undisclosed. The same goes for the recapitalization amount. Spokeswoman Courtney Goff said the closures help optimize the fleet.

The Charlotte-Concord area gains resources while bases at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Wilmington International Airport shut down. Job cuts in Raleigh and Wilmington weren't revealed.

These markets won't lose service completely, though. RDU keeps flights from New Haven, Connecticut, and Rochester, New York. Wilmington maintains connections to Nashville, Tennessee, New Haven, Tampa, and the Washington, D.C./Baltimore region.

The carrier started flying from the Charlotte region in May 2024. Since then, it has flown over 230,000 passengers across more than 2,000 flights. Avelo joined Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines as the third operator at the single-runway airport.

Trevor Yealy heads commercial development. He pointed out how convenient the airport is for passengers. "Easy in, easy out," Yealy said, according to The Charlotte Observer, mentioning that parking sits close to the terminal and provides an alternative to the crowded Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The airport opened in 1994. Officials renamed it in 2018 to honor former Mayor Scott Padgett. NASCAR teams have favored it for years because it sits near Charlotte Motor Speedway.