Oh, the times we had. File photo: Avelo.


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PREVIOUSLY (AND NO LONGER):

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Today comes news that Avelo Air will be canceling their direct route from Humboldt County Airport to Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Airport, just six months after the route was opened.

In a statement being emailed out to people who bought tickets good for some date beyond the May 2 shutdown date, Avelo says that high fuel costs prompted the closure of the route.

Fly Humboldt! posted just such an email on its Facebook page a few moments ago:

So that’s that. What happens in Vegas … doesn’t happen there anymore. At least not via this low-priced and convenient travel option!

Aha! — another budget airline — canceled its direct flights between Humboldt and Reno in late February, ostensibly for the same reason.

Decades from now, when we look back at the late stage of the pandemic, we will remember that this was a time that for some reason we had direct and cheap flights to multiple locations in Nevada and we’ll think: What?

UPDATE, 5 p.m. on a Friday: Humboldt County Administrative Office press release:

Avelo will continue to provide 3 weekly flights to and from the greater Los Angeles Area through the Hollywood-Burbank Airport. They will be adding a 4th weekly flight, on Saturdays, between mid-June and mid-August of this year. For booking information, please visit the Avelo Airlines website.

“We appreciate Avelo Airlines’ investment in our market and are sorry that the service to Las Vegas was not sustainable,” added Gregg Foster, Executive Director of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission. “We understand that changing conditions in the airline industry mean that every airline must carefully evaluate every market. We’re pleased that they will continue to provide service to Hollywood-Burbank Airport. Don’t forget that best way to keep air service is to use it. Flying local is buying local!”

“We are disappointed to see this route not continue for the residents of Humboldt County,” said Cody Roggatz, Director of Aviation for the County of Humboldt. He added, “We worked for many years to try to establish ACV-LAS service and unfortunately due to factors outside of our control (fuel prices) this route is not sustainable for Avelo to continue operating at this time. We are thankful to Avelo for providing this service and look forward to the continued partnership, and future expansion, of the ACV-Los Angeles Service provided to the Hollywood-Burbank Airport.”

The service started twice weekly, on November 18, 2021, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays. The service got off to a successful start in November and December 2021, however in recent months the route became infeasible due to record high oil prices. 

Avelo Airlines informed Humboldt County officials today, that they will discontinue service between the California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) and the Las Vegas International Airport (LAS). The last flights between ACV-LAS will be on Sunday, May 1.