Avelo has added its Central Wisconsin Airport (Wausau) to its network, which is critical for 2 reasons. Firstly, the carrier says Wisconsin is its twenty fifth state (although when writing, only 24 will likely be served when Wausau begins; see later within the article). Secondly, it’s the primary time the airport has had flights to Orlando or wider Florida.
Avelo to serve Wausau
Positioned around three hours from Milwaukee, the Wausau statistical area has a population of around 310,000, making it Wisconsin’s fifth most populous area. It’s about equidistant from Eau Clare and Green Bay, each of which have Florida service.
Starting in lower than three months, on October fifth, Orlando flights will operate on Thursdays and Sundays, enabling a simple long weekend trip. The schedule is as follows, with all times local. It’ll deploy 189-seat 737-800s on the 1,218-mile (1,960 km) route.
- Orlando to Wausau: XP758, 14:55-17:10 (3h 15m block time)
- Wausau to Orlando: XP579, 17:50-21:55 (3h 5m)
Image: GCMap.
As is commonly the case, significant incentives contributed hugely to securing the brand new airline. In 2022, Wausau secured $900,000 in funding from the Small Community Air Service Development to draw recent non-stop service.
Wausau’s largest unserved market
Based on booking data, Orlando was Wausau’s largest unserved market in 2019, with around 9,000 passengers. Spread unfairly over a 12 months, which ignores seasonality, the market had around 12 passengers every day each way. There have been even fewer in 2000-2022.
It must also attract individuals who traveled from the catchment area to Eau Clare/Green Bay/Milwaukee for non-stops and/or lower fares. Nonetheless, like so many (U)LCCs, Avelo might want to meaningfully stimulate demand from non-stop flights, low fares, and – with the assistance of the airport and community – strong promotions.
Wausau has rarely had 737s
As befits a small regional US airport, Wausau has very rarely had 737 flights. Based on US DOT T-100 data, it previously welcomed Sun Country to Bullhead City and Las Vegas, mainly on a really time-limited basis until 2009.
Photo: Avelo.
In July 2023, its largest equipment is the 76-seat CRJ-900 operated by Delta Connection on its double every day service to Minneapolis. Otherwise, it’s the 50-seat CRJ-200, and sometimes the CRJ-700, on United Express’ triple every day to Chicago O’Hare.
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twenty fifth state?
Currently, Avelo serves 24 states, making Wisconsin seem to be the twenty fifth. Nevertheless, as is commonly the case, it can be crucial to query what any business says in a press release.
Based on the carrier’s website, flights to Savannah – the one airport it serves in Georgia – will end in early September. This to be the case as other flights are bookable through January, but Savannah shouldn’t be, nor shouldn’t be scheduled past then per Cirium and OAG. Given Wisconsin begins a couple of month later, it would serve 24 states unless it reopens Georgia or adds one other.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Easy Flying.
Based on the week starting October fifth, when Avelo begins Wausau, Florida will, not surprisingly, be the carrier’s most-served state. About 22% of its flights will likely be from there.
While it serves eight airports in Florida, Melbourne has no flights between early September and November. The seven that remain – Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, and West Palm Beach – have 29 routes and 80 departing flights that week.
Where else would you want Avelo so as to add to its network? Tell us within the comments.