Avelo Keeps Concord Hub as North Carolina Bases Are Cut

(CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA) — Avelo Airlines is doubling down on Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA) while shutting down its North Carolina crew bases at Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and Wilmington (ILM). If you fly Avelo in the Carolinas, expect schedule changes soon, plus more seats and more flying centered on Concord.

Strategic consolidation: four main bases in 2026

Avelo says it will streamline operations around four main bases in 2026: New Haven (HVN), Philadelphia/Delaware Valley (ILG), Charlotte/Concord (USA), and Central Florida/Lakeland (LAL).
As part of that consolidation, Avelo will close its bases in RDU and ILM, and has also announced the closure of its Mesa, Arizona (AZA) base.

Those base closures take effect January 27, 2026, according to Avelo’s flight attendants union. The airline has warned of “near-term schedule changes” that will affect many customer itineraries. Notifications are expected by email and text.

Concord is the winner: more aircraft, bigger jets, more seats

For travelers in and around Charlotte’s northeast suburbs, Concord is getting a clear vote of confidence. Avelo says Concord will remain one of its “main bases” and will add a third aircraft there.

Even more noticeable: Avelo plans to upgrade Concord-based aircraft to Boeing 737-800s. Each 737-800 seats 189 passengers — 40 more seats than the 737-700s Avelo is replacing.

Local reporting ties real jobs to that shift. Concord’s base reportedly employs more than 75 crewmembers today. The airport currently has six nonstop Avelo destinations, with further investment promised.

Quick summary for North Carolina

RDU and ILM aren’t losing Avelo entirely

Avelo is not pulling out of Raleigh-Durham or Wilmington entirely. However, both airports lose base status, which often signals:

• Fewer aircraft parked overnight
• Less schedule depth
• Reduced same-day recovery options

Avelo says it will continue serving Raleigh-Durham from:
– New Haven (HVN)
– Rochester, New York (ROC)

Avelo says it will continue serving Wilmington from:
– Nashville (BNA)
– New Haven (HVN)
– Tampa (TPA)
– Washington D.C./Baltimore (BWI)

For many travelers, the practical impact is less about terminal branding and more about rebookings and reduced backup options when disruptions occur. When crews aren’t based locally, recovery after delays can be harder — meaning longer waits for replacement aircraft or crews.

⚠️ Heads Up: If you’re flying Avelo in or out of RDU or ILM this month, watch your inbox. Schedule adjustments can cascade into new departure times, different days of the week, or reroutes.

Why Avelo is consolidating now

This move is part of a recapitalization and broader network reset. Avelo says it is positioning for a stronger cash footing after a transaction and wants to focus growth on fewer core bases, primarily at secondary airports.

This strategy has been central to Avelo’s brand since launch:

• Secondary airports typically mean lower costs and faster airport experiences.
• For travelers, that often translates to lower fares and shorter walks.
• The tradeoff is fewer frequencies and fewer same-day alternatives.

Avelo has also placed an order for up to 100 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft. The airline says those deliveries will support a new growth phase and a smarter return to the West Coast once the E195-E2s arrive.

What this means for fares and competition in North Carolina

Concord’s growth brings more low-fare capacity into the Charlotte region, putting direct pressure on American Airlines at Charlotte Douglas (CLT), which dominates the market there. Spirit also operates in Charlotte, though its network has been uneven.

Raleigh-Durham is a different market: it’s a stronger origin-and-destination (O&D) market with deeper competition — Delta, American, and United all have meaningful schedules at RDU, plus low-cost carriers such as Southwest. With Avelo no longer basing aircraft there, Avelo may be less aggressive on frequency, which can soften fare pressure where it previously competed directly.

Wilmington is more leisure-driven and seasonal. Maintaining links from cities like Nashville and Tampa preserves vacation connections, but losing a base reduces flexibility during peak summer disruptions.

Loyalty and miles: the simple reality with Avelo

Avelo is a low-fare carrier with limited traditional loyalty benefits. It does not participate in the major, bank-transfer-friendly points ecosystems like American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, or United MileagePlus.

Considerations when choosing carriers:
– Choosing Avelo from Concord (USA) typically means cheaper cash fares but fewer elite perks.
– Choosing a legacy carrier from CLT or RDU typically gives access to status benefits, upgrades, rebooking priority, and lounge access via credit cards.

Avelo’s larger 737-800s at Concord may, however, add enough seat capacity to keep fares competitive on popular leisure routes. More seats often mean more sale pricing when demand softens.

What you should do next

If you have an Avelo trip tied to RDU or ILM, take these steps before January 27, 2026:

1. Re-check your flight details now and again, and monitor emails/texts from Avelo for schedule changes.
2. If your schedule is time-sensitive, consider booking earlier flights or adding a buffer day for critical travel such as weddings or cruises.
3. If you’re near Charlotte, watch Concord (USA) as the network expands — the new 189-seat jets may produce better fare opportunities once the expanded schedule settles in.