Avelo Airlines coming to McGhee Tyson with a new East Coast destination
There's a new airline in town.
Avelo Airlines will be the sixth airline to offer flights at McGhee Tyson Airport, breaking into the Knoxville market with new nonstop service to New Haven, Connecticut.
Starting May 9, Avelo will fly Thursdays and Sundays from McGhee Tyson to Tweed-New Haven Airport on Boeing Next-Generation 737 planes. Introductory low one-way fares will start at $62, according to a press release.
This route connects Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the picturesque towns of New England, two major tourist destinations in the U.S.
The arrival of another airline is a testament to the growth of Knoxville and record passenger traffic at the airport. In 2023, the Knoxville airport served 2.81 million passengers, the most in its 86-year history.
"Today's announcement is a meaningful step forward in our efforts to recruit flights that are affordable, convenient and important to the tourism growth of our region," Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners Brian Simmons said in a press release.
Other airlines offering flights from Knoxville are Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier and United. Together, the six airlines now offer flights to 28 destinations.
After a year with 10 consecutive months of record passenger traffic, the successful recruitment of another airline could mean fewer Knoxville passengers drive to Nashville or Atlanta to catch a flight, a key to attracting even more flight and airline options.
The announcement was made the morning of Feb. 6 at the airport terminal building, and it's not the only kind of growth coming to McGhee Tyson.
Avelo connecting Knoxville to New Haven, Connecticut
Tweed-New Haven Airport is located on Connecticut's coast and is a gateway to the 15 towns that make up Greater New Haven.
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and home to Yale University.
It also makes visiting the wider New England and New York regions easier.
The introductory $62 fares between Knoxville and New Haven are for travel from May 9-21. Fares must be booked by Feb. 13 and are available on a limited number of flights and seats. Learn more at AveloAir.com.
About Avelo Airlines
Avelo was founded in 2021 and serves 47 destinations in 23 states and Puerto Rico.
The airline brands distinguishes itself by flying unserved routes at smaller, easy-to-use airports across the country.
It also boasts one-third of its seats are "extra leg room seats."
"Avelo customers can always change or cancel their itineraries with no extra fees," the press release said.
The airline reports the lowest flight cancellation rate in the U.S. and a No. 2 ranking for reliability, according to a third-party data platform.
Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, by Daniel Dassow
The East Tennessee Economic Development Agency markets and recruits business for the 15 counties in the greater Knoxville-Oak Ridge region of East Tennessee. Visit www.eteda.org
Published February 6, 2024