Avelo Airlines enters third year of service at Wilmington Airport
As of Feb. 1, Avelo Airlines marked two years of providing convenient, hassle-free and affordable commercial air service from Wilmington Airport, known as ILG. Its 2023 inaugural flight carried 137 sun-seeking passengers to Orlando, Fla.
Since then, Avelo has expanded its route map from Wilmington to 14 nonstop destinations including San Juan, Puerto Rico. With two planes currently based at Wilmington, the airline has completed more than 3,800 flights, carrying more than 530,000 customers through ILG, handled by its 95 Wilmington-based crew members.
“Avelo’s willingness to respond to customer requests has been refreshing, and their foresight in planning popular routes has proven successful time and time again,” said Tom Cook, Delaware River & Bay Authority executive director. “Based on the consistent and frequent flight reservations, I am confident Avelo will continue to flourish at ILG. “
A recent example of such innovation includes pop-up flights to the Big Game’s host city, New Orleans (MSY), much to the excitement of Philadelphia Eagles fans. Avelo’s return of Nashville (BNA) and Myrtle Beach (MYR) to the ILG schedule is also a good indicator of officials’ understanding regarding the local customer base and tourism climate.
Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, “In February 2023, we endeavored to make air travel more affordable, faster and easier for Philadelphia-area travelers. Over the past two years, we’ve done just that. We’ve transformed ILG from a non-commercial airport into a vibrant gateway to 14 nonstop destinations spanning five states and Puerto Rico, and we’ve done it with industry-leading reliability. We are grateful for the positive reception the region has greeted us with and look forward to continued growth in the year ahead.”
As this partnership has evolved, DRBA made significant investment in marketing efforts, winning over local travelers and attracting residents in destination cities to visit the region. The influx of passengers and consequent demand for more convenient, accessible amenities has brought about many necessary improvements to the 1940s-era building.
With the acquisition of adjacent property, an additional parking lot was constructed and opened in October 2024 to increase total parking capacity to just over 1,320 spots. Currently, a terminal expansion is underway, adding a second gate and TSA screening line, enlarging waiting areas, renovating restroom facilities, and enhancing food and beverage offerings.
It’s slated to be completed in September 2025, and DRBA officials anticipate welcoming even more Avelo Airlines passengers to the newly remodeled and expanded Wilmington Airport terminal building.
