In 100 Days Of Flights To Puerto Rico, 10,000 Flew Avelo To San Juan

NEW HAVEN, CT —On March 1, Avelo Airlines marked its 100th day of service on its nonstop route between Tweed New Haven Airport and Puerto Rico’s San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

The new route began last November and marked the first expansion of Avelo beyond the continental U.S. During its 100 days of service on this route, the airline flew nearly 10,000 customers on more than 60 flights.

"The Avelo flight to Puerto Rico has given New Haven residents an affordable, easy way to visit the island," New Haven Alder Carmen Rodriguez said. "It is a terrific asset for our community."

Connecticut is home to roughly 300,000 Puerto Ricans who represent almost half of the entire Hispanic population in the state, 46.5 percent, one of the highest percentages in the nation. Additionally, there are roughly 90,000 Puerto Ricans in the greater New Haven region.

“We are thrilled, but not surprised, that Avelo’s direct flight between New Haven and San Juan has been so successful," New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said. "Many New Haven residents have deep and longstanding ties to Puerto Rico, and the direct flight has further strengthened this cultural bond and connection. It’s wonderful for residents from both locations to visit family and friends and for tourists to get to experience New Haven and San Juan, which are both vibrant and welcoming cities.”

Avelo partnered with Legend Food Service, an East Haven small business, to provide plantain chips for the Avelo flights to SJU. Legend Food Service General Manager David Murphy called the partnership "terrific."

"We are grateful they chose to utilize a small business right here in East Haven," he said.

Avelo said it "also achieved an impressive level of reliability during its few months of operation on this route."

"When excluding weather-related cancellations outside Avelo’s control, the airline achieved a 100 percent completion rate, meaning the airline did not cancel any flights between HVN and SJU," it reads.

“We have been very encouraged with the initial response to our service between San Juan and New Haven," Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said. "As we start our third year at HVN, it’s clear more and more travelers are discovering the affordability, convenience, and reliability of flying Avelo to San Juan and the other popular destinations we serve from Southern Connecticut.”

"To celebrate this milestone," the airline noted in a news release it's offering "a travel-inspiring $108 one-way fare between New Haven and Puerto Rico."