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Eureka council votes unanimously to stop using Avelo Airlines amid community outcry over deportation flights
Summary
After a lengthy public-comment period, Eureka’s City Council voted 5–0 to discontinue using Avelo Airlines for city travel while the carrier remains contracted to operate ICE deportation flights; staff said city spending on Avelo in FY24–25 was approximately $2,500.
The Eureka City Council unanimously voted to discontinue using Avelo Airlines for city business while the carrier maintains contracts to operate deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
City Manager Slattery told council that Avelo accounted for about $2,500 in city travel spending in fiscal year 2024–25 and that, as a matter of procurement, staff normally selected the lowest-cost travel option. He also said total city travel expenditures (including vehicle costs) fluctuate and were roughly in the mid-five-figure range annually.
More than a dozen residents and community groups urged the council to stop spending public money on Avelo, citing news reports and advocacy alleging Avelo’s participation in deportation flights for ICE and raising concerns about human-rights and due-process implications. Speakers included organizers from Humboldt Democracy Connections, the Humboldt Democratic Socialists of America, and local residents; themes in public comment included the city’s sanctuary-city ordinance and the symbolic and practical impact of city purchasing decisions.
Council member Fernandez moved to discontinue the city’s use of Avelo for official travel while the carrier is contracted for deportation flights; the motion was seconded and passed 5–0. Council members discussed legal implications and the difference between providing policy direction by consensus versus a formal motion; the motion was taken as a formal policy decision to direct staff on travel vendor selection for city business.
City staff said the decision is a policy direction about vendor selection for official travel and does not restrict private citizens or employees from flying on any carrier for personal travel. Staff noted potential legal considerations if the city adopted a hard prohibition on contracting and will implement the council’s direction by excluding Avelo from city-business travel bookings.
Next steps: staff will follow council direction and transition official travel purchasing away from Avelo while monitoring legal risk and any cost implications; the council did not adopt an ordinance but passed a motion directing city practice.
