UNITED STATES - Avelo Airlines has entered into a long-term agreement to operate deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, becoming one of the few carriers participating in the government’s deportation flight network.
The airline has established a new hub at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. From there, it will base three aircrafts dedicated in part to transporting people who are being deported or moved between detention centers across the country starting May 12.
“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come.” said Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy.
Immigration advocate Tom Cartwright, who closely monitors deportation flights, says its a big money business.
"Right now, as best I can tell, DHS is spending about 30, you know, between 25 and $35 million a month," Cartwright said.
These deportation flights, coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security, involve transporting people to their countries of origin including. Cartwright said to NBC that Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador are among the countries with the highest deportations.