Lakeland Linder airport unveils new logo ahead of Avelo's arrival
The city has unveiled a new logo for Lakeland Linder International Airport in anticipation of starting commercial passenger service with Avelo Airlines.
City Manager Shawn Sherrouse and City Spokesperson Kevin Cook presented the logo to city commissioners at Monday's meeting. Bold white letters "LAL," for Lakeland Linder's airport code, are followed by a stylized swan whose negative space between its wings forms the image of an plane. Underneath it in yellow lettering reads "Lakeland International Airport."
"They wanted a swan and an airplane, and I think we knocked it out of the park," Cook said.
Airport Director Kris Hallstrand was positive about the new logo that will be used in the city's marketing campaign portraying Lakeland as a vacation and travel destination.
"This would have been a six-month project with any other marketing firm to come up with this kind of concept," she said.
The municipal-owned airport pledged to provide $30,000 a year for localized marketing to potential passengers in Polk County as part of its agreement with Avelo.
The ultra low-cost carrier has yet to make any announcements about when it will begin service at Lakeland Linder and what routes it will offer to other cities. Avelo spokesperson Courtney Goff spoke at the 11th annual Sun 'n Fun breakfast March 6, stating Avelo hoped to provide details soon.
Hallstrand said her airport staff have been working daily as a go-between the Transportation Security Administration and Avelo to get a rigorous security system approved for commercial passenger service.
"I can't publicly get into all the details," she said.
Avelo has previously run into an issue in which it did not secure TSA's approval at a destination, forcing it to bus people to another airport for their flights, Hallstrand said.
"They are very gunshy," she said. "Rightfully so. We don't want a flop on day one."
Hallstrand admitted that the process had gotten "very frustrating on both ends," but said there are a number of possible options the airport staff continues to navigate.
Lakeland Linder will need several improvements to accommodate commercial air passenger services, from installation of security screening to designated long-term parking. Previously, the city had stated a goal to finish its improvements by May 15 to allow Avelo to begin operations.
Avelo, founded in April 2021 during the COVID pandemic, announced in February it had its first full-quarter profit.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland airport gets new logo ahead of Avelo's arrival
