The inaugural flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica, to RDU on Avelo Airlines landed Wednesday, the first of two nonstop international destinations Avelo is launching this month. The airline will also begin service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Feb. 22. With the addition of Montego Bay and Punta Cana to RDU’s route map, the airport now serves a record 14 international cities and one U.S. territory.
“It has been exciting to watch Avelo grow from flying one route to launching international service at RDU. The Montego Bay and Punta Cana launches kick off a new era for Avelo as they offer Triangle-area travelers more opportunities for an island getaway,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “We appreciate the commitment Avelo has made to the Raleigh-Durham market as they add routes and create jobs in our community.”
Avelo began service at RDU in 2022 with a single route and opened a base at the airport the following year. The airline now serves seven destinations from RDU and has two Boeing Next-Generation 737s and nearly 100 employees stationed at the airport.
Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, “Our inaugural international service to the Caribbean from RDU is a significant milestone for Avelo. Our mission is to Inspire Travel, and the addition of international service to our network offers our Customers even more choices. As the only airline offering nonstop service to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic from RDU, we are making it more convenient and affordable for our Customers to enjoy these popular vacation destinations. Their business is validation of the choice, affordability and industry-leading reliability Avelo offers RDU-area travelers.”
International air travel continues to grow at RDU, with more than 1.5 million passengers flying to destinations outside the U.S. in 2024. Seven airlines have launched or announced new international service at RDU over the last year, including:
- Aeromexico to Mexico City
- Air Canada to Vancouver
- Avelo Airlines to Montego Bay and Punta Cana
- BermudAir to Bermuda
- Copa Airlines to Panama City
- Lufthansa to Frankfurt
- WestJet to Calgary
Fast Facts About the Montego Bay and Punta Cana Routes:
- Schedule: Wednesdays and Sundays seasonally, from mid-November – September
- Aircraft: 149-seat Boeing Next-Gen 737
- Flight Time: Approximately three hours to each destination
- Launch Dates: Montego Bay, Jamaica: Feb. 12, 2025; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: Feb. 22, 2025