Avelo Airlines will inaugurate its first route from Dayton International Airport (DAY), connecting the city to Orlando International (MCO). Services will operate on Mondays and Fridays and is the only nonstop service for the city pair, doubling on its status as an airline offering new connections to customers. Let's find out more.

First flight today

It's an exciting day at Dayton Airport, with Avelo Airlines preparing to launch its first flight from the city on Friday, 13th January (but nothing spooky here!). Flight XP775 will depart DAY at 16:15 local time and touchdown at Avelo's third base in Orlando International at 18:30 local time. The first flight was already occurred with XP774 leaving MCO at 12:22 and landing just under two hours later in Dayton at 14:20. The carrier used N802XT, a 17-year-old Boeing 737-800 with 189 seats, for the missions.

The aircraft will regularly fly twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, starting January 16th. XP774 will leave Orlando at 17:25 and land in DAY at 19:40. After a rapid turnaround, the aircraft will depart Dayton at 20:25 and be home at MCO at 22:40 local time. Dayton marks Avelo's 34th destination in the US, established in under two years of operations.

DAY-MCO Map
Photo: GCMap

Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy is definitely excited about the launch, saying,

"Dayton – it’s time to say hello to Avelo! We’re excited to start travel to Orlando with more affordability and ease than ever. Say hello to convenient and cost-friendly hometown airport access to The Sunshine State and hello to friendly, convenient, and reliable Avelo service to Orlando’s most convenient airport.”

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

Strong demand on day one

Those looking for proof of the flight's popularity will love to hear that the carrier sold out all tickets for the inaugural flight from Dayton later today. It remains to be seen how the route performs in the coming months and through the lighter demand seasons. However, Orlando's popularity is likely to be enduring with its multiple attractions.

Gil Turner, City of Dayton Director of Aviation, noted,

"We’re very excited to offer our passengers another affordable option for their travel needs with Avelo Airlines – and we’re thrilled our community responded in such a big way by selling out the first flight this Friday. Avelo’s focus on offering a caring travel experience certainly aligns with Dayton’s reputation for being ‘easy to and through.'"

An Avelo Boeing 737-800 on arrival.
Photo: Avelo Airlines

Going to 2023 strong

Last year was an exceptional one for Avelo, with over one million passengers carried and the fleet size doubling. Considering the carrier reached during the height of the pandemic in early 2021, its growth has been impressive, taking advantage of cheaper leases for the popular 737-800s and targeting unserved markets for its new bases.

This year, the airline plans to take its presence even further by launching its own loyalty program, hoping to attract frequent flyers with perks. Learn much more about Avelo's plans from our webinar with Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy last September!

What do you think about Avelo's latest route? Let us know in the comments.

  • Avelo Airlines Tile
    Avelo Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    XP/VXP
    Airline Type:
    Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Hollywood Burbank Airport, Tweed New Haven Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Raleigh–Durham International Airport, Wilmington Airport
    Year Founded:
    2018
    CEO:
    Andrew Levy
    Country:
    United States
    Region:
    North America
  • Spirit Airlines at gate Orlando Florida Airport
    Orlando International Airport
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    MCO/KMCO
    Country:
    United States
    CEO:
    Phil Brown
    Passenger Count :
    40,351,068 (2021)
    Runways :
    17L/35R - 2,743m (9,000ft) | 17R/35L - 3,048m (10,000ft) | 18L/36R - 3,659m (12,000ft) | 18R/36L - 3,659m (12,000ft)
    Terminals:
    Terminal A | Terminal B