US startup carrier Avelo has announced another route from the Greater Bay Area. Avelo will begin flying from Greater Bay Area/Sonoma County Airport to Las Vegas from 16th September onwards. Routes between the two states are some of the busiest, and Avelo is hoping to break in with its low prices and direct connectivity.

New

In a statement today, Avelo Airlines announced that it is further expanding its network from the popular wine country airport of Greater Bay Area/Sonoma County Airport (also known as Santa Rosa). The airline will begin flying to Las Vegas, Nevada, its sixth state outside California, from 16th September onwards.

Currently, there are no direct flights between Santa Rosa (STS) and Las Vegas. Instead, travelers must make connections in LAX or SFO, increasing travel time to over 3.5 hours. However, Avelo will be the first to make the direct connection, cutting down flight time to just 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-800 Tails
The lack of direct competition on the route means Avelo will likely see high demand when flights start in two months. Photo: Avelo Airlines/Getty Images

Flights will begin operating on 16th September and fly four times weekly, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Travelers will likely find timings convenient too, with the outbound flight leave Santa Rose at 10:05 AM and arriving at 11:45 AM local time. The return leg will leave Las Vegas at 12:25 PM and reach at 14:05 local time, a quick turnaround.

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Fares

To celebrate its inaugural service to Las Vegas, Avelo Airlines is offering early buyers discounted tickets. One-way fares will cost as little as $39 in each direction, a great incentive for prospective travelers. At the time of writing, tickets are still available for this price, so book soon if you wish to fly in September or beyond.

However, in addition to being the only direct option, Avelo will also bring down fares on the Santa Rosa-Las Vegas route. Currently, the cheapest flight between the airports from July to September is $211, and this figure rises up to $440, more than double Avelo's prices. Expect to see fares fall quickly once the low-cost startup enters the market.

Avelo Airlines 737 Passengers Boarding
Avelo's entry will lower prices and force competition from traditional mainline carriers like United and Alaskan. Photo: Avelo Airlines/Getty Images

Considering the resurgent popularity of Las Vegas in recent months, travel demand remains sky-high. In a statement, Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said,

"Our expanded service at STS demonstrates Avelo’s commitment to providing the Bay Area with more choice and affordability in air travel. This new route makes it easier than ever for our Customers to visit the entertainment capital of the world from the region’s most convenient and relaxing airport."

More to come

While Avelo is quickly becoming popular in the Western USA, the airline has plans to grow its reach beyond the region. In Q3 of 2021, Avelo will establish a new base in Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut. New Haven will be the airline's base of operations on the East Coast and could see strong connectivity similar to Burbank. For now, keep an eye out for Avelo, as it makes its mark as the US' newest mainline carrier.

What do you think about Avelo's new routes from Sonoma to Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments!