Avelo Airlines to Withdraw From Connecticut in January 2026, Ending Flights to Cancun, Punta Cana, and More in the Caribbean: All You Need to Know

Avelo Airlines has announced plans to end all operations at Bradley International Airport (BDL) starting January 2026, marking the end of its service to three major sun destinations, Cancun, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The decision means that Connecticut residents will lose their only direct air links to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, significantly impacting both tourism and outbound leisure travel.​

The carrier’s final flights will take place as follows:

Once these routes are discontinued, Avelo will cease all operations at Bradley Airport, closing its brief tenure in Connecticut’s second-largest airport.

Avelo’s Communications Manager said the carrier is realigning its network to improve overall efficiency, citing rising operational costs and lower-than-expected load factors. All affected passengers will receive full refunds, and the airline assured continued service to Connecticut residents through Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), where Avelo serves over twenty-five US destinations across the East Coast, Midwest, and the Caribbean.​

The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA), which oversees Bradley International Airport, expressed surprise and disappointment over Avelo’s decision. Official statements from the CAA suggest that the airline’s exit was unexpected given strong passenger numbers and financial incentives provided to the carrier during its first year of operations.

The termination of these three seasonal routes is expected to impact leisure travel significantly between Connecticut and key Caribbean destinations.

According to the Connecticut Airport Authority, discussions are already underway with alternative carriers to restore some or all of these routes by mid‑2026. Several airlines have reportedly expressed interest in operating seasonal or year-round services to fill the market gap, though specific carriers have not yet been named.​

For travellers in Hartford‑Springfield, Avelo’s departure means fewer nonstop vacation options, which could shift international leisure traffic to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports.

The exit from Bradley International comes amid broader restructuring efforts across Avelo’s network. The Houston-based low-cost carrier has been gradually downsizing operations in unprofitable markets, including its Burbank, California hub, which it will vacate in December 2025.​

To offset financial losses, Avelo recently placed an order for up to hundred Embraer E195‑E2 aircraft, signaling a strategic shift away from a single model fleet. These smaller, fuel-efficient jets allow for right‑sizing routes and improved load factors while maintaining operational flexibility. The new aircraft are expected to enter service in 2026, helping the airline reduce overhead and improve fuel efficiency across its East Coast network.

Avelo continues to invest heavily in Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), its primary base in the region. From HVN, the airline operates frequent flights to Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Carolinas, in addition to new seasonal services to Chicago, Nashville, and Savannah.​

Bradley International Airport (BDL), located in Windsor Locks, serves the Hartford–Springfield metropolitan area and is recognized as Connecticut’s largest commercial airport. It handled approximately 6.7 million passengers in 2024, according to the CAA’s annual report.​

The loss of Avelo’s Caribbean routes will reduce BDL’s international flight portfolio, leaving Aer Lingus (to Dublin) and Breeze Airways (to Las Vegas and key US destinations) as primary expansion carriers. However, airport officials remain optimistic that partnerships and future bids could attract new Caribbean and Latin American providers.

The New England tourism sector may also see a ripple effect, as the removed routes previously supported connectivity for holiday packages from Connecticut to Caribbean resorts. Tour operators specializing in all-inclusive vacation packages to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic could face an initial setback, though many industry analysts expect replacement service announcements ahead of the next winter travel season.

Avelo Airlines’ final operations from Bradley will run through January 25, 2026. The airline has confirmed that all passengers booked on affected flights beyond those dates will be contacted directly and refunded automatically, with full reimbursement processed within five to seven business days.​

Customers wishing to continue flying with Avelo are encouraged to rebook from Tweed-New Haven Airport, where the airline plans to increase weekend frequencies to Florida and Puerto Rico from early 2026.

For Bradley-based travellers, however, Avelo’s exit marks the end of direct low-cost leisure connectivity to some of the region’s most visited tropical destinations.

While the carrier’s exit represents a loss for Connecticut’s international air market, the Connecticut Airport Authority remains proactive. Officials have emphasized continued negotiations with carriers to fill the gap left by Avelo and reaffirmed long-term plans to grow Bradley’s route network, emphasizing Caribbean and Latin American links in its future priorities.

As Connecticut looks to maintain its position as a convenient international gateway for New England travellers, the state’s aviation and tourism officials remain focused on rebuilding seasonal connectivity, ensuring residents can once again reach sunshine destinations like Cancun, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay without layovers in the near future.

Image Credit: Avelo Airlines Inc.