Avelo Airlines Launches Wilmington-to-Punta Cana Flights, Giving ILM Its First International Route as Dominican Republic Tourism Surges
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. PR Newswire+2AirlineGeeks.com+2 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