The community of Wilmington, North Carolina, is set to lose its only international flight service from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Avelo Airlines, an American ultra-low-cost carrier, has announced the closure of its Wilmington base, which will result in the cancellation of seven routes, including this seasonal service. This marks a significant loss for the airport, as it was the first and only time ILM had scheduled international flights in its history.
The route to Punta Cana, which began operating on December 24, 2024, was short-lived. Flights will no longer be bookable past January 24, 2025. Currently, Avelo operates the service twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays using Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The flight schedule is as follows:
– **Flight Number:** XP1088
– **Frequency:** Twice weekly
– **Departure Airport:** Wilmington at 10:00 AM
– **Arrival Airport:** Punta Cana at 2:05 PM
– **Duration:** 3 hours, 5 minutes
– **Flight Number:** XP1089
– **Frequency:** Twice weekly
– **Departure Airport:** Punta Cana at 3:35 PM
– **Arrival Airport:** Wilmington at 5:53 PM
– **Duration:** 3 hours, 18 minutes
The closure of this route coincides with Avelo’s broader strategy to streamline operations across four main bases: New Haven, Wilmington (Delaware), Concord-Padgett, and Lakeland Linder. The airline’s decision has sparked concerns within the local community, as the international service had been anticipated to pave the way for additional international routes and airlines to consider Wilmington.
Wilmington International Airport recently celebrated the introduction of its first international route, having made significant upgrades to its facilities to accommodate customs and border patrol services. These enhancements were intended to support international travel and expand the airport’s offerings.
Despite the loss of the international route, Avelo Airlines has had a notable impact on the Wilmington area since it began operations three years ago. More than a quarter of a million travelers have flown with Avelo from ILM, contributing over $1.1 billion to the local economy. Even with the route to Punta Cana ending, Avelo will continue to provide domestic services to destinations such as Nashville, New Haven, Tampa, Washington Dulles, and Baltimore.
Customers with existing reservations on affected itineraries can expect to be contacted by Avelo regarding alternative travel options or potential refunds.
Data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics indicates that Avelo has quickly become the second-largest airline at Wilmington International Airport, holding a 12.76% market share of all flights between August 2024 and July 2025. This places it behind American Airlines, which has a 21% market share. Notably, Avelo’s service to New Haven, Connecticut, ranked tenth among the most popular routes from ILM.
According to Cirium, an aviation analytics company, Wilmington International Airport was recorded as the 108th busiest airport in the United States in 2025. Following the loss of its international route, travelers seeking international flights will need to travel by road to either Raleigh–Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport, or connect through airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue (seasonal), and United Airlines.
As the community of Wilmington grapples with this significant change, the airport will retain its ‘international’ designation, albeit with a focus solely on domestic services for the foreseeable future.
