Avelo Airlines’ new partnership with DHS for deportation flights has sparked public protests and raised safety concerns.
At a Glance
- Avelo Airlines began deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport, Arizona, as part of a deal with DHS and ICE.
- The airline uses three Boeing 737-800 aircraft for these operations but has not disclosed contract specifics.
- Protests and safety concerns have emerged from unions and immigrant groups.
- Avelo’s CEO cites stability and job security as reasons for this controversial contract.
Avelo Airlines and DHS Partnership: Details and Concerns
Avelo Airlines has entered a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to operate deportation flights from Arizona. This agreement involves using three Boeing 737-800 planes from Melbourne Gateway Airport. The specifics of their contract with DHS, including flight destinations, remain undisclosed, raising questions about transparency. Avelo’s involvement marks a rare move by a commercial airline to engage in such activities, usually handled by specialized charter services under management of CSI Aviation.
CEO Andrew Levy stated that this venture is a calculated step for Avelo, aiming to expand its operations and secure jobs for more than 1,100 employees. “We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 crew members employed for years to come,” said Levy. Despite potential financial benefits, the decision has triggered backlash.
Public Protest and Safety Issues
The New Haven Immigrants Coalition is actively campaigning against the flights, creating online petitions and calling for a boycott of Avelo Airlines. “We demand that AVELO AIR halt plans to carry out deportation flights in cooperation with the Trump Administration,” stated the Coalition, decrying the hardship these flights impose on families and communities.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has raised alarming safety concerns. They highlight the danger posed by evacuating flights packed with handcuffed deportees in case of emergencies. “Flight Attendants are charged with the safety and health of passengers on our flights. Having an entire flight of people handcuffed and shackled would hinder any evacuation,” the union emphasized. Such constraints could jeopardize passengers’ and crew’s safety during medical emergencies or technical failures.
The Broader Context and Repercussions
Avelo’s collaboration fits into a broader trend of increased deportation efforts under President Trump’s administration. The GOP tax bill aims to enhance ICE’s capacity and deportation efficacy. However, the legal and humanitarian implications continue to evoke public outcry. Avelo’s operation at Mesa is one of several ICE Air hubs, contributing to nearly 8,000 flights carried out within a year. Despite these operations facilitating job security for Avelo’s workforce, the ethical and social implications reverberate beyond aviation.
The public’s reaction has been swift, with protests erupting in Arizona and Connecticut and generating substantial online dissent. Ongoing campaigns and union critiques suggest that such collaboration with ICE could adversely affect Avelo’s public perception and market trust.
