Budget airline to end service at Salem airport next month

Last week, Avelo Airlines announced it would end service out of the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport on Aug. 10. Avelo has been operating out of Salem as the only airline carrier servicing the airport since October 2023 with weekly flights to Burbank and Las Vegas. The budget airline also said it plans to pull out of other West Coast markets, including Eugene in December, when it aims to close its base in Burbank.   Avelo’s looming departure from Salem and other markets comes amid controversy over the airline’s decision earlier this year to provide deportation flights out of Phoenix for the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency. That agreement has prompted a backlash against the carrier, including in Salem, where some residents have protested and urged the city council to sever ties with Avelo.   Joining us for a discussion about what Avelo’s exit means for Salem, its local economy and the future of its airport is Salem Statesman Journal city reporter Whitney Woodworth.