Wilmington, North Carolina has unprecedented scheduled commercial international air service.
Ultra-low-cost carrier Avero Airlines has launched non-stop flights from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) to Punta Cana (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic. Airport officials say the route is both a symbolic “first” and a practical test of how much international demand exists on the North Carolina coast. PR Newswire+2AirlineGeeks.com+2
Timing is hard to ignore. AAA predicts a record 122.4 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles during the holiday travel period (December 20 to January 1), and AAA’s booking data ranks Punta Cana among the top international destinations, indicating that “tropical vacation” is a major driver of travel in late December. AAA Newsroom
Meanwhile, tourist numbers in the Dominican Republic are recording historic numbers. Punta Cana receives the majority of its tourists by air, with 10,284,251 visitors from January to November 2025, according to a Dominican government report, making it a strong case for new direct flights from fast-growing regional airports in the United States. President of the Dominicana Republic
Wilmington’s first scheduled international flight is more than just a new route.
Avero’s ILM-Punta Cana service will begin on December 24, 2025, and will operate twice weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) using Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, the airline said. PR Newswire+1
This route is historic for Wilmington International Airport. Avello said the route is ILM’s first international flight and the only nonstop service between Wilmington (ILM) and Punta Cana (PUJ). PR Newswire+1
Local company coverage in the days leading up to the launch positioned the initial departure as the culmination of a year of rapid growth for ILM. WilmingtonBiz reported that the first flight is scheduled to depart at 10:30 a.m. on the first flight Wednesday, with seasonal flights running through April. Wilmington Biz
A “seasonal test” framework is important. When the route was first announced in August, ILM Airport Director Jeff Burke said the flight was “important” because it would help local communities determine whether they could support international commercial services long-term. Wilmington Biz
Why Avello chose Punta Cana and why Wilmington is important.
Avero has been building a larger footprint in Wilmington since launching there in 2022. AirlineGeeks notes that the airline has grown from ILM to serve a wide range of domestic markets, while selectively expanding to overseas leisure destinations. aviation geek
In Avero’s Dec. 24 announcement, founder and CEO Andrew Levy characterized the route as both a milestone for the company and a convenience initiative for travelers.
“Our first international service from ILM to Punta Cana is an important milestone…” PR Newswire
Levy also emphasized the ultra-low-cost airline’s core themes of affordability and access, arguing that the new international option will allow travelers in the Wilmington area to easily access the Dominican Republic while also attracting inbound travelers to the North Carolina coast. PR News Wire
From the airport’s perspective, this route was not just “added to the schedule,” it required coordination with federal testing capacity. In the same Avero announcement, ILM’s Burke thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other stakeholders involved in preparing facilities for scheduled international flights. PR News Wire
Operational Reality: International Arrivals Do Not Use the Same Building
One of the most substantial differences between a “domestic only” airport and an airport with international capabilities is what happens after you land.
ILM maintains a separate international terminal with a Federal Inspection Service (FIS) for immigration screening of arriving international passengers. According to the airport’s official guidance, departing passengers will continue to use the main passenger terminal, while returning international passengers will clear customs at the ILM international terminal. Fly ILM
This setting is consistent with WilmingtonBiz’s report on the route’s announcement in August. Travelers will depart from the main terminal, and incoming passengers will be processed at dedicated customs facilities. Wilmington Biz
For travelers, this operational detail is also a planning detail. ILM recommends a parking strategy that considers a separate international terminal for returning passengers. This is new and important guidance now that scheduled international services exist. Fly ILM
ILM’s bigger story: One of the fastest growing U.S. airports in seat capacity
The Punta Cana launch is attracting attention partly because it is international, but it is also a continuation of ILM’s broader expansion.
In July 2025, WilmingtonBiz, citing an airport news release, reported that ILM’s seating capacity had increased by 66% over the past three years (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025), ranking ILM at the top of the “Major U.S. Airport” market on that basis for this period. Wilmington Biz
Airport Director Jeff Burke said the continued growth reflects Wilmington’s strength as both a business market and a growing leisure destination. Wilmington Biz
And in December, WilmingtonBiz reported that the airport was forecasting 880,000 enplanements per year in 2025, a 20% increase from 2024, with the most recent data available at the time (November) recording about 831,000 enplanements. Wilmington Biz
The airport is also in the midst of a major infrastructure upgrade. WilmingtonBiz described the $130 million project, which includes changes to the curb frontage used by travelers, as well as a parking garage, new rental car area, new terminal entrance and exterior upgrades. Wilmington Biz
In other words, international flights are not being operated at the stagnant airport. You will arrive at an airport that is already expanding its capacity, facilities and air services.
Avero’s Wilmington location: jobs, flights, and flexibility to try new routes
A new route is one thing. Local hubs are another story.
In April 2025, WilmingtonBiz reported that Avelo planned to launch a location in ILM (with aircraft overnight) and hire approximately 50 employees in the Wilmington area for roles such as pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and customer support. Wilmington Biz
Brian Davis, Avero’s chief commercial officer, explained what the base means operationally. Aircraft are “resident” at the airport, creating staffing needs and increasing schedule flexibility. Wilmington Biz
The same report also captures important strategic points. Having crews and aircraft locally means Avero will be able to more easily experiment with new non-stop routes, especially leisure routes where demand is seasonal and data from initial flights can inform long-term decision-making. Wilmington Biz+1
This background helps explain why Punta Cana, as a leisure destination, is a logical candidate for “first” international flights, especially during the winter travel season.
Punta Cana’s momentum: Record numbers of Dominican tourists and surge in U.S. travelers
New flight routes are always determined on request. Macro tourism data suggests Avero is betting on a market with strong tailwinds.
Dominican Republic: Punta Cana tops as air gateway with 10.28 million visitors through November
On December 1, 2025, the Dominican government announced that the number of visitors to the country from January to November 2025 was 10,284,251 (air + cruise), a record-setting achievement and one that almost guarantees a similar record for the same year. President of the Dominicana Republic
The same release reports the following:
These numbers help explain why Punta Cana is often the target of non-stop leisure routes. Punta Cana is not only a famous resort destination, but also a major air arrival gateway for the country’s tourism economy.
U.S. visitors: 3.73 million nonresident air travelers (January to October), according to Dominican Republic tourism officials
In a separate announcement distributed via Business Wire, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism highlighted that 3,730,852 nonresident air travelers visited from the United States from January to October 2025, representing 52% of all international arrivals for that period. business wire
Tourism Minister David Collard emphasized the strategic importance of the US market in a quoted statement.
“The United States is not only the largest source of tourists…” Business Wire
Whether you see this as marketing or policy, the implications are clear. Dominican tourism leaders see the United States as a major demand engine and see air connectivity, especially from secondary markets in the United States, as a direct path to growth.
AAA: Holiday travel reaches record levels, Punta Cana top year-end destination
AAA’s holiday forecast predicts that 122.4 million travelers will travel 50 miles or more from home between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1, a 2.2% increase over last year’s record. AAA Newsroom
On AAA’s Bookings-Based Destinations list, Punta Cana ranks No. 2 among international/Caribbean destinations for the year-end travel period (behind Cancun). AAA Newsroom
Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, summarized this season’s travel mix as including “friends trips” and “tropical vacations” and highlighted why Caribbean routes are especially relevant in late December. AAA Newsroom
These signals – U.S. vacation travel records, Punta Cana’s high popularity rankings, and a record year for Dominican tourism – collectively create a demand narrative that makes a twice-weekly route from Wilmington feel less like a gamble and more like a targeted move.
ILM – What travelers need to know about Punta Cana Services
Although schedules and fares are subject to change, press coverage and official statements surrounding the launch point to some practical takeaways.
Frequency: 2 flights per week (Wednesday and Saturday). PR Newswire+1 Seasonality: Local reports describe this service as a seasonal service until April. WilmingtonBiz+1Aircraft type: Boeing 737 Next Generation. PR Newswire+1If you are going through customs with ILM: Depart from the main terminal. Upon your return, you will clear customs at ILM’s separate international terminal/FIS facility. ILM+1 Holiday Airport Crowds: ILM officials expect busier-than-normal conditions throughout the holiday season, with local leaders pointing to record passenger numbers in November and December. Wilmington Biz
For travelers in Southeastern North Carolina, nonstop flight options also reduce the need to drive to large hubs for Caribbean service. This is one reason why airports and airlines often market these routes as both “new destinations” and “time-savers.”
The bigger question is whether the small but growing airport can maintain international service.
If there’s one theme that runs through all three stories – the opening of the Avero route, the growth of ILM, and the strength of Punta Cana’s tourism – it’s that secondary airports are becoming true gateways for international leisure demand, not just feeders to larger hubs.
ILM has invested in infrastructure, seat and service expansion and now has an airline hub that allows for rapid route experimentation. Wilmington Biz+2 Wilmington Biz+2
Avero is positioning itself as a profitable airline that connects underserved U.S. cities directly with high-demand vacation markets, especially as U.S. travelers continue to show an appetite for Caribbean travel. PR Newswire+1
And Punta Cana remains one of the strongest magnets for new leisure lifts in the United States, fueled by record Dominican tourism performance and a dominant share of domestic air arrivals. President of the Dominican Republic +2 Business Wire +2
Whether ILM adds more international flights next will likely depend on what airport leaders indicated when the Punta Cana service was first announced: data. If ridership and seasonal economics go well, this first line could serve as a template for Wilmington’s next lines. Wilmington Biz+1
