Hobby's new airline

Low-cost, Houston-based airline offers new, non-stop route to New England

Photo of a Boeing 737 Avelo Airlines plane

Houston-based Avelo Airlines begins service to New Haven, CT, beginning June 14.

Courtesy of Avelo Airlines

Houstonians looking to head to the New York City area without the New York City hassles (traffic, overcrowded airports) will soon have a new option that takes off from Houston Hobby (HOU). Beginning in June, Houston-based Avelo Airlines is launching non-stop service between Hobby and Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), making it the only carrier in the Bayou City to offer non-stop service to the Nutmeg State.

Set to begin flights on June 14, the low-cost, no-frills airline is offering introductory rates of $98 one-way, with service on Fridays and Mondays, perfect timing for New York metro-area weekend getaways (The Hamptons, anyone? Newport?).

"We cannot wait for Houston travelers to discover Avelo's convenience, affordability, and industry-leading reliability," Avelo CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement. "This is an especially proud occasion for our Houston-based airline and all of us who call Houston home."

Avelo will fly Boeing Next Generation (NG) 737 aircraft to New Haven, perhaps best known as the city that calls Yale University home. It's also known for celebrated pizzerias such as Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, and Modern Apizza. Located just under a two-hour drive to New York City and a little over an hour to the beaches of Westerly, R.I., New Haven offers travelers an alternative to the crush and crowds of the Big Apple, while also being a hub to other Northeast locations.

Founded in Houston in 2018, Avelo employs more than 200 people at its Greenway Plaza headquarters. The airline began service in 2021 from Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). Since then, it has grown to serve 50 destinations in 23 states and Puerto Rico. The HOU-HVN flight is the airline's first route out of its home city.

Fares begin at $98, with optional extra charges for things like selecting your preferred seat, seats with extra legroom, carryon luggage, bringing a pet, and priority boarding. There are no charges, however, for changes or cancellations to travelers' reservations, and the airline promises that children under 14 will always be seated automatically with an accompanying adult for no extra cost.

"Houston Airports exists to connect the people, businesses, cultures, and economies of the world to Houston," Houston Airports director of aviation Jim Szczesniak added. "That's why we are thrilled to welcome Avelo to Hobby Airport. From world-class amenities to Houston-friendly hospitality and an efficient experience from curb to gate, our team at Hobby is ready to welcome even more travelers to the first and only 5-Star Skytrax Airport in North America."

flights houston hobby hvn airport

only the best in HOU

Houston's IAH soars as 4th best airport for holiday travel in 2024

George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston

George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Facebook

Houstonians are in safe hands at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Houston's punctual and award-winning George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has just been rated the fourth best airport in the country for the upcoming holiday travel season, so says a new report by travel experts Locals Insider.

The study examined the percentage of on-time departure flights at 50 of the biggest airports in America to discover the 10 best and worst airports for traveling during the holidays. Departure statistics and reasons for delays were analyzed from November 17, 2023 to January 3, 2024.

According to the report's findings, IAH had an on-time departure rate of 85.8 percent during the 2023 holiday period. That means out of the 13,921 total scheduled flights departing from the airport, only 1,976 flights were delayed. That's a pretty good track record.

IAH has been working hard to deliver the best travel experiences for its passengers, including opening its new Terminal D, investing in much-needed bathroom upgrades, showing off its award-winning art and entertainment program, and providing top notch dining experiences.

Though IAH appeared on Locals Insider's top 10 best list, Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) descended onto the travel guide's 10 worst U.S. airports for holiday travel this year.

Appearing at No. 8, HOU isn't the worst offender on the list, but its holiday season delay and cancellation rate in 2023 was 22 percent.

"Although Houston’s William P Hobby experiences fewer departing flights compared to other airports on our top 10 list, it’s still prone to disruptions," the report's author wrote. "Overall, more than one in five (22 percent) of departing flights are either delayed or canceled during the holidays."

The study's data found 1,178 holiday flights at HOU were cancelled in 2023, and only 19 were delayed.

Ranking as the No. 1 best airport for holiday travel is Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., which had an 88.6 percent on-time departure rate.

For Houstonians that will be traveling this holiday season, Locals Insider recommended five best-practice tips for a smooth travel experience: Book an early morning flight as those are less prone to delays (additionally, book a direct flight), apply for TSA PreCheck to avoid long screening processes, and budget more time to arrive early to the airport.

The report also suggests packing light and shipping gifts to their intended destination ahead of time.

"Even the TSA recommends shipping your wrapped gifts rather than packing them in your luggage or carry-on," the report said.

The top 10 best U.S. airports for holiday travel in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Washington Dulles International
No. 2 – Minneapolis-St. Paul International
No. 3 – Salt Lake City International
No. 4 – George Bush Intercontinental
No. 5 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 6 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
No. 7 – Newark Liberty International
No. 8 – Detroit Metro Wayne County
No. 9 – Chicago O'Hare International
No. 10 – Charlotte Douglas International

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines the Thanksgiving travel period from November 17-28, and the winter holiday travel period from December 14 through January 3, 2024. The study included data from both holiday travel periods, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airline Service Quality Performance System (ASQP).