WILMINGTON — Avelo Airlines announced two new routes at Wilmington International Airport today — Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, ILM’s first international route, and West Palm Beach, Florida.
READ MORE: Avelo Airlines protestors to ask NHC commissioners to address ICE deportation flights
Avelo is the only airline offering nonstop service between ILM and these two destinations. These routes will operate twice a week utilizing Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft; West Palm Beach beginning Dec. 24, 2025, with twice weekly service on Wednesdays and Saturdays and Punta Cana beginning Nov. 20, 2025, with twice weekly service on Thursdays and Sundays.
“We continue to Inspire Travel by growing our service in Wilmington with these two new routes, including ILM’s first commercial international flight, offering our Customers even more choices,” Avelo CEO Andrew Levy said in a press release. “As the only airline offering nonstop service to Punta Cana and West Palm Beach from ILM, we are making it more convenient and affordable for our Wilmington-area Customers to enjoy 17 popular vacation destinations, while making it easier for out-of-state visitors to experience the best of Coastal North Carolina.”
The announcement comes after several local protests over Avelo’s contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to run deportation flights out Avelo’s Arizona base. Avelo is the only commercial airline to partner with ICE, as the federal agency uses private charter companies for many of its flights.
The largest event was held on May 31, when about 50 demonstrators gathered on the steps of Wilmington City Hall holding a sidewalk picket along Third Street.
The event was one of 29 protests held nationwide coordinated by the Coalition to Stop Avelo, formed after the airline signed the $151-million contract with ICE in April.
Organizers of the event — local advocacy groups including the Immigrant Allies Forum, Indivisible Wilmington, and the Wilmington Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America — organized another protest this past weekend, where protestors lined the road leading to Wrightsville Beach, asking vacationers to “fly their values.”
Though the contract is only to operate charter flights out of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and no other Avelo bases, Wilmington protestors have called on ILM and county commissioners (who appoint airport authority members) to cease its partnership with the company.
Recent reporting from WHQR revealed $1,017,413 in local marketing funding has gone to promoting Avelo flights and ILM Airport since Avelo started operating in 2022. Avelo has also received $200,000 from ILM Airport for reimbursement of eligible expenses, but ILM did not divulge what qualifies as “eligible expenses.”
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