Concord airport adds 2 routes, lands up to 50 jobs as budget carrier to base planes there
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport is getting two new routes next year to “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” and “Music City,” officials announced Wednesday morning.
Avelo Airlines will begin nonstop flights to Nashville, Tennessee, and Daytona Beach, Florida in April. Flights to Daytona Beach start April 3 and Nashville starts April 4. Routes between Daytona Beach and Concord will be offered on Thursdays and Sundays, while flights will head to Nashville on Mondays and Fridays.
One-way fares are starting at $44. And Spring Breakers interested in Florida destinations will find the Daytona Beach destination particularly appealing.
The airline also announced plans to create up to 50 new jobs by basing two new Boeing 737 aircraft at the Concord airport.
Some of the roles include customer service, flight attendants, pilots, technical operations, maintenance and supervisors. Additional information about the positions are available online at AveloAir.com/Careers.
In May, Avelo became the third airline at Concord, with the first flight going to New Haven, Connecticut. Since that time, Avelo has served more than 40,000 customers on about 300 flights in Concord.
‘We’ll keep growing’ in Concord
For the announcement, Jim Olson, Avelo head of communications, made his third trip to the airport in Cabarrus County. “If people fly us, we’ll keep growing,” Olson said of the expansion that began seven months ago. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing here today.”
Olson said the growth is due to convenience and what he calls the “curb to plane simplicity, seamlessness, and smoothness” of using the Concord airport. This includes avoiding long TSA lines, long walks and getting on planes faster.
The new flights will also help with tourism in the area, especially with Daytona Beach’s connection with NASCAR, according to Donna Carpenter, president and CEO of the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Routes to Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Florida destinations were added this year. Those destinations are Albany, New York; Hartford, Connecticut; Lakeland, Florida; Manchester, New Hampshire; New Haven, Connecticut; Rochester, New York; and Wilmington, Delaware.
The airline noted the proximity to major cities from some of its routes, such as Wilmington to Philadelphia, Manchester to Boston and Lakeland to Orlando. Its latest routes brings the total number of cities it flies to from Concord to nine.
In November, Avelo announced an extended schedule through Labor Day.
Avelo had a busy Wednesday morning as other schedules in North Carolina continue to grow. The airline announced new flights going to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in February, from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
About the Concord airport
Concord’s airport is owned by the city and has one runway. It opened in 1994 and celebrated its 30th year in November.
NASCAR race teams use the airport because of its proximity to the NASCAR track Charlotte Motor Speedway. The airport was renamed in honor of former mayor Scott Padgett in 2018.
The facility is an alternative to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, one of the busiest in the world and a major hub for American Airlines.
At the Wednesday announcement, Concord Mayor Bill Dusch said the airport provides an opportunity for visitors to discover Concord and Cabarrus County. The airport contributes more than $900 million to the local economy, he said.
Before Avelo arrived in Concord, Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines were the other commercial airlines offering services from the airport.
Allegiant Air offers routes going to regions in Florida from Concord. This includes access to the Orlando/Daytona Beach region, Tampa Bay, Ft. Myers and south Florida areas.
Sun Country takes passengers to Caesars Entertainment resorts and casinos.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 9:49 AM.
