Avelo Airlines is ending its West Coast operations six weeks ahead of time, including service to and from the Eugene Airport.

“Last week, we decided to end our operations earlier on Oct. 20 (43 days early) due to lower demand during our final month and issues with airport operations,” said Courtney Goff, communications manager for Avelo.

The airline has only one route in and out of Eugene — to Burbank, California. Those flights make up only about 1% of air traffic in and out of Eugene.  

Avelo Airlines has been the subject of controversy for its migrant deportation flights, although no migrant flights go in and out of Eugene. Local advocacy group Avelo Out of EUG, which protested the airline for its contracts with ICE, say they played a role in the airline stopping its local services.

“The only commercial airline that contracts with ICE has no business flying in and out of a sanctuary state like Oregon,” said Avelo Out of EUG organizer Anne Bridgman. “We believe our airport protests helped educate passengers about the inhumane work Avelo does and cut into the airline’s profit margin, forcing it out sooner than planned.”