Avelo To Exit Hartford Bradley International
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Avelo Airlines will cease operations at Hartford Bradley International (BDL), ending all service after its final flight on January 25, 2026. The move cancels the airport’s only nonstop to Montego Bay (MBJ) and follows less than a year of flying from Bradley. Avelo cites underperformance and costs; the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) says it’s “disappointed and surprised,” and is already courting a replacement carrier for Jamaica.
What’s Changing & When
Final flight dates by route (BDL):
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Cancún (CUN): Saturday, January 3, 2026
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Punta Cana (PUJ): Monday, January 5, 2026
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Montego Bay (MBJ): Sunday, January 25, 2026 (last day of Avelo at BDL)
Avelo says all customers on affected itineraries have been notified; tickets on flights that will be canceled will be refunded to the original form of payment.
Fleet & Operation Notes
Avelo’s Bradley flying has been operated with Boeing 737NG aircraft—737-800 (typically ~189 seats) and 737-700 (around ~147 seats)—in single-class, high-density layouts well-suited to leisure markets like Cancún (CUN), Punta Cana (PUJ), and Montego Bay (MBJ). After January 25, Avelo says it remains committed to Tweed–New Haven (HVN) as its Connecticut base.
Why Avelo Says It’s Leaving—And CAA’s Response
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Avelo’s position: The airline characterizes the decision as data-driven, stating that revenues did not cover costs on Bradley markets and calling alternative explanations “false and uninformed.”
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CAA’s position: The airport authority disputes Avelo’s reasoning, calling the MBJ cancellation “inexplicable,” alleging the airline is trying to avoid standard fees other carriers pay, and noting Avelo sought to waive remaining rent despite having already benefited from a year rent-free. The CAA says it will not relieve Avelo of its contractual commitments.
Community Impact
The loss of nonstop Montego Bay (MBJ) service directly affects Greater Hartford travelers with family ties to Jamaica and reduces leisure options for winter-sun demand. The CAA says it is actively engaging other airlines to restore BDL–MBJ nonstop service.
Customer Options & Tips
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Refunds: If your flight is among those Avelo intends to cancel, full refunds to the original form of payment will be issued.
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Alternates: Until BDL–MBJ is restored, the most practical same-day routings typically connect over New York JFK (JFK), New York LaGuardia (LGA), or Boston Logan (BOS), depending on carrier and schedule.
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Check emails/app: Monitor booking emails for updates and confirm any self-made changes align with the refund policy before accepting alternatives.
Market Context At Bradley (BDL)
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Short tenure: Avelo began BDL flying in November 2024; this exit comes shortly after launch.
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Additional churn: The development coincides with Spirit Airlines also departing BDL next week, tightening low-cost capacity at the airport heading into peak winter leisure season.
What To Watch Next
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Replacement for MBJ: Expect the CAA to prioritize carriers with existing Jamaica (MBJ) networks for a near-term BDL restart.
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Leisure portfolio: With CUN and PUJ also ending, Bradley’s winter beach map will hinge on other incumbents’ capacity decisions.
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Fee narrative: The public disagreement over fees and incentives may influence how future entrants structure deals at BDL.
Bottom Line
Avelo will exit Hartford Bradley International (BDL) on January 25, 2026, cutting Cancún (CUN), Punta Cana (PUJ), and the airport’s sole nonstop to Montego Bay (MBJ). The airline cites unit economics; the airport authority disputes the framing and is moving to secure a successor for Jamaica service. Impacted customers will receive full refunds, and BDL is working to plug the MBJ gap as quickly as possible.
