AVELO FACES $65,000 PENALTY FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING VIOLATIONS
April 17, 2026
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On March 10, 2026, the FAA announced a proposed $65,000 civil penalty against Avelo Airlines for allegedly neglecting to conduct random drug and alcohol testing of flight personnel. Between April 2024 and November 2024, the FAA claims that Avelo, an ultra-low-cost carrier based in Texas, failed to include ten (10) flight attendants and flight crewmembers into the carrier’s random drug and alcohol testing pool in violation of FAA safety regulations. To ensure strict compliance with aviation safety standards, the FAA requires carriers to perform random drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive aviation personnel (e.g., pilots, flight attendants, and maintenance staff). Even though most drug and alcohol tests are conducted randomly throughout the year, FAA regulations make clear that drug and alcohol testing is not merely a one-time requirement but an ongoing compliance obligation. For example, carriers must perform drug and/or alcohol testing of airline employees performing safety-sensitive functions as soon as possible following certain aviation accidents or incidents. A carrier’s failure to implement and maintain an FAA-compliant drug and alcohol testing program could result in civil penalties and, when safety concerns warrant, loss of FAA certification. In the case of Avelo, the Houston-based carrier will have thirty (30) days from receipt of the enforcement letter to respond. Covered carriers are strongly encouraged to periodically analyze and update their program to verify strict adherence to the FAA’s drug and alcohol testing regulations.
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