CONCORD, N.C. — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport is expanding to add an airline and a new nonstop destination.
A representative from Avelo Airlines was in Concord on Tuesday to announce the launch of exclusive nonstop service between Concord and Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut.
The airport's Aviation Director Dirk Vanderleest is excited to see the airport grow with the community.
“It's a great opportunity for the city and for the airport itself," Vanderleest said.
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The new route begins on May 2 and will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays, with flights starting at $62. The route will use a Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft.
It’s a collaboration years in the making. Trevor Yealy with Avelo says accessibility is what drew the airline to Concord.
"We got a parking lot right there," Yealy said. "So it's easier for customers to get in and out. It's a very accessible airport. And we think we can bring that same reliable service that we have another place is right here.”
For those not familiar with the airline, according to market research firm Anuvu, in 2023, Avelo achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate in the U.S. and ranked number 2 in on-time reliability.
"Just like our racing roots, we’re a fast-growing city with an abundance of unforgettable entertainment, shopping, dining, and recreation experiences," City of Concord Mayor Bill Dusch said in a statement. "Visitors are sure to fall in love with our region, and with Avelo’s low rates, they never have to miss out on the year-round opportunities in Concord and the Charlotte metro region.”
Ahead of the announcement, WCNC Charlotte researched how Concord-Padgett Regional Airport stacks up against other airports on pricing.
The Department of Transportation says average ticket prices come in at $111.10, compared to Charlotte Douglas International Airport where average fares come in at a soaring $423.28. For context, the cheapest tickets can be found in Mobile, Alabama for about $78.65.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is not too far behind, costing on average $345.12, and fares at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro are looking at about $443.50.
Avelo is looking forward to adding more travelers to the area.
“There's gonna be a healthy amount of what we call VFR traffic visiting friends and relatives traffic, whether it's bringing people down from the Connecticut area to Charlotte and Concord to visit you know, their friends or relatives or whether it's taking people from down here up to the Connecticut metro area to visit their friends and relatives that may have stayed up there,” Yealy said.
Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the average fare for Charlotte. It has since been corrected.
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