Merely a little over a year afterthey announced expanded flights to Las Vegas, androughly seven months after they paused flights to Orlando, Dubuque's only airline has informed theRegional Airportthat Dubuque will not be included in their flight schedule for the remainder of 2024. Avelo Airlines made a splash in Dubuque in 2023, offering cheap airfare to Orlando, FL from theDubuque Regional Airport. This came afterAmerican Airlines ceased its service in Dubuque, leaving TriStaters with Cedar Rapids, Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago as some of the only reasonable options for airtravel. However, a little over a year after they had liftoff in Dubuque,Avelo is now grounded for the remainder of the year. Afterpausing flights to Orlando earlier this year,Avelo Airlineshad planned to resume direct flights to Florida in November, but said that aircraft availability and increasing costs at Orlando International Airport factored into their decision not to return, pera press release from the City of Dubuque. Avelo also stopped flights to Orlando in five other airports it serves,including:. Dubuque Regional Airport Manager Todd Dalsingexpressed disappointment with Avelo's decision, especially considering that flights to Orlando had load factors of 8090 during peak travel times:. The Orlando flights Avelo offered were very popular, running very strong load factors during core travel periods. Passengers reported positive flights and passenger experiences at the airport were wellreceived. Todd Dalsing, pera press release from the City of Dubuque. In June 2023,Avelo Airlines announced that it was expanding its service from Dubuque Regional Airport with nonstop flights to Las Vegas, NV. Introductory oneway fares between DBQ and Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport LAS started at 69.Flights to Las Vegas were suspended in November later that same year. Two months later,Avelo announced it was suspending flights to Orlando in Dubuque. Presently, there is no active airliner for the Dubuque Regional Airport. Dalsing added that conversations withAveloregarding service in 2025 are ongoing as well as discussions with other airlinesdestinations at theDubuque Regional Airport. No less, this is bitterly sad news for Dubuquers and TriStaters as a whole. Gallery Credit: Stacker
Avelo Airlines will not include Dubuque in its flight schedule for the rest of 2024. The decision not to return was influenced by aircraft availability and rising costs at Orlando International Airport. Dubuque Regional Airport Manager expressed disappointment, especially since Orlando flights had high demand. Avelo had previously offered cheap flights to Orlando and Las Vegas from Dubuque but suspended both services. Discussions for future service in 2025 are ongoing, leaving Dubuquers and Tri-Staters without an active airliner currently.