We joined Avelo Airlines, the first new mainline airline to launch in the United States in nearly 15 years Wednesday, as it made its first scheduled flight from the Hollywood Burbank Airport to Santa Rosa.
Employees, investors, travel journalists and bloggers boarded the inaugural flight for a visit to Lynmar Estate, a Santa Rosa Winery.
“Today’s first flight represents far more than a 90-minute journey from LA’s iconic Hollywood Burbank Airport to the Sonoma County Airport in the heart of California wine country — we’re embarking on a new era of choice, convenience and everyday low fares,” said Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy.
The flight left Burbank at 10:30 a.m. and landed at the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport at 11:55 a.m. The first flight from Santa Rosa to Burbank left at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday and arrived just before 5:30 p.m.
Additionally, flight XP 101 will depart Burbank daily at 3:40 p.m. and arrive in Santa Rosa at 5:05 p.m. and flight XP 102 leaves Santa Rosa daily at 5:45 p.m. and arrives in Burbank at 7:20 p.m.
For a limited time, daily flights to Northern California start at $19, utilizing a 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
“This new route will help stimulate demand to the region and allow travelers to skip Bay Area traffic,” Levy said. “They can land in the heart of California’s wine country and be on their way to over 425 vineyards and 55 miles of majestic Pacific coastline just a few steps from the gate.”
Inaugural flight passengers were treated to wine and lunch at the popular Sonoma County vineyard, where they were hosted by owner Lynn Fritz.
Avelo will begin service three times a week Thursday between Burbank and the Pasco, Washington, airport, the largest in the southeastern Washington/northeastern Oregon region.
On Friday, Avelo will begin service four times a week between Burbank and the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana. Those flights will leave Burbank on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. and leave Bozeman the same days at 12:05 p.m.
Avelo will expand by late May to 11 total destinations including Arcata- Eureka, Redding; Bend-Redmond, Eugene and Medford, Oregon; Grand Junction, Colorado; Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona; and Ogden-Salt Lake City, Utah.
