Houston-based Avelo Airlines to charter DHS flights to support ‘deportation efforts’

Avelo Airlines, based out of Houston, has entered a long-term agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to charter deportation flights from Arizona.

The airline confirmed the agreement Tuesday in a statement to Houston Public Media. The company said the "charter program" will provide DHS's Immigration Control and Enforcement agency with international and domestic flights to support the department's “deportation efforts.” Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in the statement that the agreement would provide the company with stability.



"We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic," Levy said. "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." The announcement of the charter flight initiative comes as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to face scrutiny for its deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador .

On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to continue the deportations on the basis of the centuries-old, wartime Alien Enemies Act, but said the migrants must get court hearings before they are removed from the U.S. Avelo said its flights for DHS will begin May 12 from the Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona using three 737-800s.

To facilitate the arrangement, Avelo also will be opening a base at the Phoenix-area airport and hiring staff such as pilots, flight attendants and aircraft technicians. The airline did not provide further details about the agreement, such as where the flights would be going and who DHS would be deporting. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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