Wilmington, North Carolina, now has something it has never had before: scheduled, commercial international air service.
Ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines has launched nonstop flights from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)—a milestone route that airport officials say is both a symbolic “first” and a practical test of how much international demand exists in coastal North Carolina. [1]
The timing is hard to ignore. AAA forecasts a record 122.4 million Americans will travel 50+ miles during the year-end holiday travel period (Dec. 20–Jan. 1), and Punta Cana ranks among the top international destinations in AAA’s booking data—an indicator that “tropical vacations” are a major driver of late-December travel. [2]
Meanwhile, Dominican Republic tourism is posting historic numbers: the Dominican government reports 10,284,251 visitors from January through November 2025, with Punta Cana receiving the majority of air-arrival tourists—a powerful backdrop for a new nonstop route from a fast-growing U.S. regional airport. [3]
Wilmington’s first scheduled international flight is more than a new route
Avelo’s ILM–Punta Cana service began on December 24, 2025, and operates twice weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) using Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft, according to the airline’s announcement. [4]
For Wilmington International Airport, the route is historic: Avelo describes it as ILM’s first international route, and as the only nonstop service between Wilmington (ILM) and Punta Cana (PUJ). [5]
Local business coverage in the days leading up to launch framed the first departure as the capstone of a year of rapid growth at ILM. WilmingtonBiz reported the inaugural flight was scheduled to depart at 10:30 a.m. on the first operating Wednesday, and that the seasonal service would run through April. [6]
That “seasonal test” framing matters. When the route was first announced in August, ILM Airport Director Jeff Bourk said the flight was “critical” because it would help determine whether the community can support international commercial service long-term. [7]
Why Avelo chose Punta Cana—and why Wilmington mattered
Avelo has been building a bigger footprint in Wilmington since launching service there in 2022. AirlineGeeks notes the airline has grown to serve a broad set of domestic markets from ILM while expanding selectively into international leisure destinations. [8]
In Avelo’s December 24 announcement, founder and CEO Andrew Levy positioned the route as both a company milestone and a convenience play for travelers:
“Our inaugural international service to Punta Cana from ILM is a significant milestone…” [9]
Levy also emphasized affordability and access—core themes for an ultra-low-cost carrier—arguing the new international option makes it easier for Wilmington-area travelers to reach the Dominican Republic, while also inviting inbound visitors to coastal North Carolina. [10]
From the airport’s perspective, the route was not simply “added to a schedule”—it required coordination with federal inspection capabilities. In the same Avelo announcement, ILM’s Bourk thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other stakeholders involved in preparing facilities for scheduled international service. [11]
The operational reality: international arrivals won’t use the same building
One of the most practical differences between “domestic-only” airports and airports with international capability is what happens after landing.
ILM maintains a separate International Terminal with a Federal Inspection Station (FIS) for clearing arriving international passengers. The airport’s official guidance says departing passengers still use the Main Passenger Terminal, but returning international passengers clear customs at the ILM International Terminal. [12]
That setup aligns with WilmingtonBiz reporting from the route’s August announcement: travelers would depart from the main terminal, while inbound passengers would be processed through a dedicated customs facility. [13]
For travelers, this operational detail is also a planning detail. ILM recommends parking strategies that account for the separate international terminal for returning passengers—guidance that becomes newly relevant now that scheduled international service exists. [14]
ILM’s bigger story: one of the fastest-growing U.S. airports by seat capacity
The Punta Cana launch is getting attention partly because it’s international—but it’s also a continuation of ILM’s wider expansion.
In July 2025, WilmingtonBiz reported ILM’s seat capacity had increased 66% over the prior three years (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025), citing an airport news release and ranking ILM as the top “major U.S. airport” market by that measure during the period. [15]
Airport Director Jeff Bourk described the sustained growth streak as a reflection of Wilmington’s strength as both a business market and a growing leisure destination. [16]
And in December, WilmingtonBiz reported the airport projected 880,000 annual enplanements (boardings) in 2025, up 20% over 2024, with nearly 831,000 enplanements recorded through the latest available data at the time (November). [17]
The airport is also in the middle of a major infrastructure effort. WilmingtonBiz described a $130 million project that includes a parking garage, a new rental car area, a new terminal entrance, and exterior upgrades—along with changes to the curb frontage used by travelers. [18]
In other words: the international route isn’t happening at a stagnant airport. It’s arriving at an airport already scaling up capacity, facilities, and airline service.
Avelo’s Wilmington base: jobs, aircraft, and flexibility to try new routes
A new route is one thing. A local base is another.
In April 2025, WilmingtonBiz reported Avelo launched a base of operations at ILM (with aircraft overnighting locally) and planned to hire around 50 employees in the Wilmington area for roles including pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and customer support. [19]
Avelo Chief Commercial Officer Brian Davis described what a base means operationally—aircraft “live” at the airport, creating staffing needs and enabling more schedule flexibility. [20]
The same reporting also captured a key strategic point: having crews and aircraft based locally can make it easier for Avelo to experiment with new nonstop routes—especially leisure routes where demand can be seasonal and where data from initial flights helps guide longer-term decisions. [21]
That context helps explain why Punta Cana, a leisure-heavy destination, becomes a logical candidate for a “first” international route—particularly during winter travel season.
Punta Cana’s momentum: record Dominican tourism numbers and a U.S. travel surge
A new flight route is always a bet on demand. The macro tourism data suggests Avelo is betting on a market with strong tailwinds.
Dominican Republic: 10.28 million visitors through November, with Punta Cana the top air gateway
On December 1, 2025, the Dominican government announced that the country received 10,284,251 visitors from January through November 2025 (air + cruise), describing it as a record-setting performance that all but guarantees a record close to the year. [22]
The same release reported:
- 7,884,421 tourists arrived by air (January–November). [23]
- 2,399,830 cruise passengers arrived in the same period. [24]
- Punta Cana accounted for 62% of air-arrival tourists (January–November), far ahead of other airports. [25]
Those figures help explain why Punta Cana is so frequently targeted for nonstop leisure routes: it’s not just a well-known resort zone—it’s also the dominant air-arrival gateway for the country’s tourism economy.
U.S. visitors: 3.73 million nonresident air travelers (Jan–Oct), per Dominican tourism officials
In a separate announcement distributed via Business Wire, the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic highlighted 3,730,852 nonresident air travelers from the United States visiting between January and October 2025, representing 52% of all international arrivals in that period. [26]
Tourism Minister David Collado emphasized the strategic weight of the U.S. market in a quoted statement:
“The United States is not only our largest source of visitors…” [27]
Whether you view that as marketing or policy, the implication is clear: Dominican tourism leadership sees the U.S. as the primary demand engine, and air connectivity—especially from secondary U.S. markets—is a direct lever for growth.
AAA: Punta Cana is a top year-end destination as holiday travel hits record levels
AAA’s year-end holiday forecast projects 122.4 million travelers will go 50+ miles from home from Dec. 20 through Jan. 1, up 2.2% over last year’s record. [28]
In AAA’s booking-based destination list, Punta Cana ranks No. 2 among international/caribbean destinations for the year-end travel period (behind Cancun). [29]
AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber summarized the season’s travel mix as including “friend getaways” and “tropical vacations,” underscoring why Caribbean routes are particularly relevant in late December. [30]
Put together, these signals—record U.S. holiday travel, Punta Cana’s high popularity ranking, and Dominican tourism’s record year—create a demand narrative that makes a twice-weekly route from Wilmington feel less like a gamble and more like a targeted move.
What travelers should know about the ILM–Punta Cana service
While schedules and fares can shift, the launch coverage and official statements point to several practical takeaways:
- Flight frequency: Twice weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays). [31]
- Seasonality: Local reporting describes the service as seasonal, running through April. [32]
- Aircraft type: Boeing 737 Next-Generation. [33]
- Where you clear customs at ILM: Depart from the main terminal; clear customs on return at ILM’s separate International Terminal/FIS facility. [34]
- Holiday airport congestion: ILM officials anticipated heavier-than-usual crowds through the holiday season, with local leadership noting a record November and strong December volume. [35]
For southeastern North Carolina travelers, a nonstop option can also reduce the need to drive to larger hubs for Caribbean service—one reason airports and airlines often pitch these routes as “time savings” as much as “new destinations.”
The bigger implication: can a small-but-growing airport sustain international service?
If there’s one theme that runs through all three storylines—Avelo’s route launch, ILM’s growth, and Punta Cana’s tourism momentum—it’s that secondary airports are becoming real gateways for international leisure demand, not just feeders into big hubs.
ILM has invested in infrastructure, expanded seats and service, and now has an airline base that enables quicker experimentation with routes. [36]
Avelo, for its part, is positioning itself as the airline that can profitably connect underserved U.S. cities directly to high-demand vacation markets—especially as U.S. travelers show continued appetite for Caribbean trips. [37]
And Punta Cana, backed by record Dominican tourism performance and a dominant share of national air arrivals, remains one of the strongest magnets for new U.S. leisure lift. [38]
Whether ILM adds more international routes next will likely depend on what airport leadership hinted at when the Punta Cana service was first announced: the data. If passenger loads and seasonal economics work, this inaugural route could become Wilmington’s template for what comes next. [39]
References
1. www.prnewswire.com, 2. newsroom.aaa.com, 3. www.presidencia.gob.do, 4. www.prnewswire.com, 5. www.prnewswire.com, 6. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 7. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 8. airlinegeeks.com, 9. www.prnewswire.com, 10. www.prnewswire.com, 11. www.prnewswire.com, 12. flyilm.com, 13. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 14. flyilm.com, 15. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 16. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 17. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 18. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 19. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 20. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 21. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 22. www.presidencia.gob.do, 23. www.presidencia.gob.do, 24. www.presidencia.gob.do, 25. www.presidencia.gob.do, 26. www.businesswire.com, 27. www.businesswire.com, 28. newsroom.aaa.com, 29. newsroom.aaa.com, 30. newsroom.aaa.com, 31. www.prnewswire.com, 32. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 33. www.prnewswire.com, 34. flyilm.com, 35. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 36. www.wilmingtonbiz.com, 37. www.prnewswire.com, 38. www.presidencia.gob.do, 39. www.wilmingtonbiz.com
