With a goal of adding 120 new pilots this year, Avelo Airlines announced Thursday it would boost pay by nearly 50% for captains and 30% for first officers.
Avelo, which has its East Coast base at Tweed New Haven Airport, said it would be offering the highest pilot pay rates in the nation for airlines in the ultra-low-cost carrier and regional sectors when the hike takes effect on Feb. 1.
More pilots are needed for Avelo’s expanding fleet of 737 planes, the company said. The carrier currently flies six planes — three from Tweed and three from Burbank, Calif. — and nine more are slated to be delivered by the end of the year.
Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, “We’re committed to attracting and retaining the industry’s best pilots. This is an incredible opportunity to join one of the most exciting airline stories in more than a decade.”
In addition to the higher pay — the starting hourly rate for a captain will rise to $200 from $135 — Avelo will offer an $1,800 monthly stipend to help offset the cost of commuting. If a pilot chooses to live “in base,” they will get the $1,800 a month as a bonus.
New Avelo captains in their first year will earn $209,600 as a base, and first officers will take home $117,200, including sign-on bonuses and commuting stipends.
As part of the hiring announcement, Avelo also said it would expand in 2022 to add new planes, serve at least 40 destinations by the end of the year and establish new bases nationwide.
Avelo currently flies to 18 cities and has said it plans to announce new destinations from New Haven in coming months.
The last of Avelo’s announced routes to Florida from New Haven launched Jan. 13 with an inaugural trip to Sarasota-Bradenton Airport.
Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.
