Avero Airlines launched a new flight route from Wilmington (ILM) in North Carolina, USA to Punta Cana (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, December 24th. Flights are operated twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays using Boeing’s next-generation 737 aircraft, and nonstop flights take just over three hours.
The flight will depart Wilmington at 10am on both days, land in Punta Cana at 2:05pm, depart at 3:35pm, and return to Wilmington at 5:53pm the same day. Travelers can reserve seats on the new routes through the airline’s website, with some fares starting at less than $100.
Wilmington’s international expansion
Texas-based low-cost Avero is the first and only airline to offer nonstop flights between Wilmington and Punta Cana.
Andrew Levy, founder and CEO of Avero Airlines, said in a statement:
“The first international service from ILM to Punta Cana is an important milestone for Avero and Wilmington.
“As the first and only airline to offer ILM international service, we are making it more convenient and affordable for customers in the Wilmington area to enjoy the DR and 15 popular destinations, while making it easier for visitors to experience the best of coastal North Carolina.”
Wilmington International Airport Director Jeff Burke thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection for preparing the airport’s facilities to “handle scheduled commercial international flights for the first time in ILM’s history.”
Punta Cana as a major tourist hub
This new connection comes as Punta Cana ranks as the No. 2 international holiday destination for U.S. air travelers in AAA booking data.
On the Dominican side, it reported a record high of over 10 million visitors in the first 11 months of 2025. This is a 52% increase compared to pre-pandemic 2019 and a 3.1% increase compared to last year. Of these, 7,884,421 were air travelers.
Punta Cana International Airport accounts for 62% of all domestic air tourist arrivals.
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