WILMINGTON — Avelo Airlines announced on Wednesday that it will add routes from Wilmington Airport (ILG) to airports at Concord, N.C. and Lakeland, Fla. this fall.
Flights to Charlotte, N.C. via the Concord Regional Airport, and Orlando, Fla. via the Lakeland Linder International Airport will start as early as Nov. 7, and will fly twice a week. Bookings are now live.
“Our routes to Orlando / Lakeland and Concord / Charlotte are high in demand. We know those in south Philly and Delaware want to get to Central Florida and Charlotte and don’t want to use larger airports in the area where the cost is much higher,” Avelo Communications Manager Courtney Goff told the Delaware Business Times. “We see the demand to visit friends and family and do business in the areas as well.”
Avelo Airlines operated out of ILG for more than a year, successfully targeting smaller markets to serve as a convenient and more affordable option to those who live within a two-hour drive of the First State.
In its first year, Avelo marked more than 2,100 flights and served nearly 286,000 customers out of ILG, including flights that can start as low as $41 for one-way trips and average around $168 for a round trip.
“Avelo is proud to be the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region’s airline of choice,” Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a prepared statement. “Our customers tell us they love the convenience, affordability and reliability of flying Avelo at ILG. The addition of these two new routes is a testament to positive reception Avelo has received in the region.”
With the two additional routes, Avelo will now serve 13 nonstop destinations from ILG, including Myrtle Beach, S.C., Wilmington, N.C. San Juan, Puerto Rico and four additional stops in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Orlando via the Orlando International Airport.
In the past, the airline had suspended some flights and decreased the frequency of others during the winter months while responding to market demand as well as maintenance needs. Avelo typically buys used aircrafts to help reduce costs passed onto the customers. Now, there are two Boeing Next-Generation 737 airplanes serving ILG.
Avelo’s announcement for ILG capped what the Houston-based airline called its largest expansion in history. On that same day, Avelo announced nonstop service from Bradley International Airport in Connecticut to seven new destinations, as well as international flights to Cancun, Mexico and Montego Bay, Jamaica in mid-November.
The airline will also expand service from Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina to Fort Myers, as well as Connecticut.
“These two new routes [from ILG] work with continuing our growth across our network,” Goff added. “With Orlando/Lakeland becoming a base, it opens up additional opportunities for new routes in the future. It will free up some aircraft time for potential use for other new routes.”
Meanwhile in Delaware, state officials and leadership from the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) are ready to invest in Avelo’s future out of the airport. Earlier this year, the DRBA announced its plan to invest $9.9 million to expand the airport over the next five years, including building out the airport terminal’s hold room and other customer service concessions.
“We’re thrilled that Avelo Airlines is adding two new destinations to its schedule at ILG. As the operator of ILG, the Authority is all-in to help Avelo succeed and grow their customer base here,” DRBA Executive Director Thomas Cook said in a prepared statement. “Our focus remains on being the airport of choice for people in Delaware, South Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland who seek low fares, quality service and a convenient, hassle-free airport experience.”
Editor’s note: this story has been updated with a comment from Avelo Communications Manager Courtney Goff.
