Avelo Airlines announced on March 18, 2026, it will launch nonstop service from Tweed-New Haven Airport to Indianapolis and Cleveland this summer, bringing the airport's total destinations to 28 and extending the low-cost carrier's Midwest footprint from the New Haven-area airport it has called home since 2021.
The Indianapolis route debuts June 18, 2026, operating Thursdays and Sundays. The Cleveland service follows one day later on June 19, flying Mondays and Fridays. One-way introductory fares on both routes start at $39. Both routes operate on Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft.
"We're excited to announce two new nonstop routes at Tweed: Indianapolis and Cleveland," said Avelo CEO Andrew Levy. "Our commitment to New Haven and Connecticut is unwavering as we continue to showcase our affordable fares, convenient travel experience and industry-leading reliability."
Avelo Bets on New Haven's Regional Growth
Avelo has operated at Tweed-New Haven since November 2021 and has become the airport's dominant carrier. The two new Midwest routes build on service the airline already offers to destinations across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, positioning Tweed as a regional alternative to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and John F. Kennedy International in New York.
As part of a broader network expansion, Avelo simultaneously announced nonstop service connecting Indianapolis and Cleveland to Charlotte/Concord, N.C., making the new Midwest cities part of a multi-airport strategy rather than a New Haven-specific investment.
Robert Reed, chairman of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, said the new routes reflect the airport's trajectory. The airport handled more than 500,000 passengers in fiscal year 2024 and has added more than two dozen destinations under Avelo's tenure.
$250 Million Expansion Awaits Environmental Permits in New Haven
The route announcement comes as Tweed pursues a $250 million infrastructure overhaul that has drawn significant opposition from East Haven residents. The project includes an approximately 84,000-square-foot East Terminal on the East Haven side of the airport, a runway extension from 5,600 feet to 6,575 feet, and parking for about 4,000 vehicles.
The project received Federal Aviation Administration approval in December 2023, but remains pending permits from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A CT DEEP permit application was filed in April 2025. The agency requested additional information in August 2025, which the airport submitted in December 2025; the application is currently in technical review. DEEP is targeting completion of its review within one year of the application.
To offset nine acres of unavoidable wetland impact, the airport's mitigation plan calls for restoration of 28.5 acres of tidal wetlands and creation of more than three acres of new tidal salt marsh. STV, a New York City-based engineering firm, has been selected to manage construction, which the airport is targeting to begin in 2026.