Avelo Airlines Expands Service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from Wilmington International Airport

Avelo Airlines has recently launched its first international route from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) with nonstop service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This marks a significant milestone for Avelo as the first and only airline offering direct flights between ILM and Punta Cana.

The nonstop service operates twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays using Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Avelo’s expansion into this exclusive route adds to their already affordable, convenient, and reliable air service that was introduced to Wilmington and the Island Beaches in June of 2022. Travelers can now book their flights on AveloAir. com.

To celebrate the inaugural flight, Avelo hosted a special event at ILM featuring a Dominican Republic flag celebration, sweet treats from the airport, and Avelo fanfare. As customers arrive in Punta Cana, they will be greeted with a water-cannon salute and festive music.

Founder and CEO of Avelo Airlines, Andrew Levy, expressed his excitement for the launch of this new international service, stating, “Our mission is to inspire travel, and the addition of international service to our expansive route network offers our customers even more choices. As the first and only airline offering international service from ILM, we are making it more convenient and affordable for our Wilmington-area customers to enjoy the D. R. and our 15 popular destinations, while also making it easier for visitors to experience the best of Coastal North Carolina.

The Airport Director of ILM, Jeff Bourk, also spoke about the new service, thanking U. S. Customs and Border Protection and other stakeholders for their support in preparing the facility for scheduled commercial international flights for the first time in ILM’s history. He also extended a special thanks to Avelo for the “wonderful Christmas gift” of launching international service to Punta Cana.

Avelo Airlines established a Crewmember base and base of operations at ILM on April 3, 2025, with two Boeing Next-Generation 737s stationed at the airport. This investment in Wilmington has allowed Avelo to significantly expand their convenient, affordable, and reliable air service throughout Coastal North Carolina. Since launching at ILM in June 2022, Avelo has flown over 580,000 customers on nearly 5,000 flights.

In addition to providing travel opportunities, Avelo’s presence at ILM has also created job opportunities in the aviation industry for individuals at all stages of their career, including pilots, flight attendants, ground services, customer support, and more.

Avelo currently offers 15 nonstop destinations from ILM, including Boston/Manchester, NH (MHT); Detroit, MI (DTW); Nashville, TN (BNA); New Haven, CT (HVN); New York/Long Island (ISP); Philadelphia