Big Win! Avelo Air To Stop ICE Deportation Flights
If you are despairing over the lawlessness and violence of the Trump administration, here is some news to make you feel better about the power of the people.
On Wednesday, after months of public protests and outcry, Avelo Airlines announced it will stop providing deportation flights for ICE.
Avelo spokesperson Courtney Goff told The Washington Post the ICE flights “provided short-term benefits but ultimately did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue to overcome its operational complexity and costs.”
Translation: the money was not worth the headache and the hit to Avelo’s reputation. Goff also told The Post that protests and “’widespread misinformation’ about the airline did not affect the carrier’s popularity or passenger loads.” That’s a far cry from saying that protests had nothing to do with the decision.
Since announcing its DHS contract for deportation flights in April, the carrier “faced protests, boycotts and backlash from travelers, flight attendant unions, local politicians and immigration activists,” The Post noted.