Avelo Airlines Hiring Flight Attendants to Work Deportation Flights

Aspiring flight attendants can apply for an opportunity with one of the US’ newest budget airlines, but it won’t be serving ticketed passengers like usual.

Beginning May 12, Avelo Airlines will operate deportation flights contracted by the Department of Homeland Security from Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, a company spokesperson told Business Insider.

The “long-term charter program” agreement will use three of Avelo’s Boeing 737-800 planes and fly both domestically and internationally.

Avelo said it will open a base in Mesa for pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics to support the new operation.

A job listing listing says Avelo is “seeking energetic, highly motivated” flight attendants to staff the flights, and outlines qualifications like ensuring safety and “creating a caring customer experience.”

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, the flight attendant’s primary role will be safety and security, with serving meals and drinks as a secondary responsibility.

They will also be joined by an inflight nurse and a “flight officer in charge,” who will oversee the cabin crew and detainees.

Pay for the flight attendant roles starts at $28 an hour, the listing says.

The spokesperson told BI that Avelo’s planned deportation operation is a business decision and not political. They declined to disclose the size of the contract or how much revenue the flights may bring in.

Avelo CEO Andrew Levy said in the statement that the decision was a “sensitive and complicated” topic and that it was made to provide the airline with stability amid a worsening economic outlook, to expand its regular passenger operations, and keep its crew members employed “for years to come.”