Avelo Airlines Faces Protest Over Deportation Flights While Launching Wilmington’s First International Route

In the closing days of 2025, Avelo Airlines finds itself at the center of two sharply contrasting narratives: a groundswell of protest over its alleged role in deportation flights, and a landmark launch of Wilmington International Airport’s (ILM) first scheduled international route to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

On December 28, immigrant rights groups from Connecticut and beyond are set to gather outside Tweed-New Haven Airport, Avelo’s main Connecticut hub, to protest what they call the normalization of “highly immoral” deportation operations. The protests, planned to coincide with peak holiday travel, are also scheduled at airports in Florida, Maryland, Michigan, and North Carolina, aiming to shine a spotlight on families separated by recent deportation efforts.

The backdrop for these demonstrations traces back to April, when news broke that Avelo had agreed to operate charter flights for ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, via a contract with third-party provider CSI Aviation. While Avelo maintains that it has no direct contract with ICE, its partnership with CSI Aviation — which was awarded a Department of Homeland Security contract to facilitate immigration removals — has drawn sustained opposition. More than 40,200 people have signed a pledge not to fly Avelo until it ends its involvement.

James Salsich, a Connecticut organizer with MA/CT Stop Avelo, put it plainly: “This is about refusing to normalize what’s happening. We want to stand out there and make people aware that what is going on is highly immoral.” His sentiment is echoed by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, who has pressed Avelo for transparency on its deportation flights and expressed frustration over the airline’s lack of responsiveness. “I have been very disappointed that the leadership of Avelo have essentially given us the [middle] finger, frankly, and that’s not a way to do business with the state of Connecticut and the people that use and support the airport,” Tong told CT Public.

Despite the controversy, Avelo is pressing forward with expansion elsewhere — and nowhere is that more visible than Wilmington, North Carolina. On December 24, 2025, Avelo launched twice-weekly nonstop flights from ILM to Punta Cana, marking the airport’s first-ever scheduled international service. The timing couldn’t be more strategic: AAA forecasts a record 122.4 million Americans traveling during the year-end holiday period, with Punta Cana ranked among the top international destinations.

Dominican Republic tourism is surging, too. Official government statistics show over 10.28 million visitors from January through November 2025, with Punta Cana accounting for the lion’s share of air arrivals. Avelo’s new route is a calculated bet on this booming demand, offering Wilmington-area travelers a direct gateway to the Caribbean — and giving ILM a practical test of its ability to sustain international service.

Airport officials, including ILM Director Jeff Bourk, have framed the launch as both a symbolic first and a “critical” experiment. The seasonal service runs through April, using Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft, and required upgrades to ILM’s customs and inspection facilities. Departing passengers use the main terminal, while returning international travelers clear customs at a newly prepared International Terminal.

ILM’s growth story is no less remarkable. The airport has seen a 66% increase in seat capacity since 2022, projects 880,000 enplanements in 2025 (up 20% over last year), and is in the midst of a $130 million infrastructure upgrade. The launch of Avelo’s Wilmington base earlier in 2025 brought around 50 new local jobs and enabled the airline to experiment with new routes — a flexibility that made Punta Cana a logical candidate for this winter season.

For travelers, the new service offers twice-weekly flights and a streamlined international arrival experience. ILM’s guidance stresses parking and terminal logistics for returning passengers, underscoring the practical changes brought by international operations.

But the bigger question looms: Can a small-but-growing airport like Wilmington sustain international service long-term? The answer may hinge on passenger numbers and economic performance from this inaugural route. ILM’s leadership has signaled that data from the Punta Cana service will guide decisions about future international expansion.

Meanwhile, the protests against Avelo highlight an enduring tension in the airline’s rapid ascent. The company is positioning itself as a disruptor, connecting secondary U.S. cities directly to high-demand vacation markets. Yet, its involvement — direct or indirect — in deportation flights has sparked a debate over corporate responsibility and the social costs of operational decisions.

As Avelo continues to expand, both supporters and critics will be watching closely. For some, the new international route is a symbol of opportunity and growth. For others, the protests outside Tweed-New Haven and beyond are a reminder that business decisions can have far-reaching human consequences.

The story of Avelo Airlines in 2025 is one of ambition colliding with accountability. As the airline opens new doors for travelers in Wilmington, it faces closed ones in communities questioning its role in the nation’s deportation machinery. Whether growth and controversy can coexist — or whether one will ultimately reshape the other — remains to be seen.