Avelo announces new nonstops from RDU, including another overseas destination
Avelo Airlines will begin flying nonstop between the Triangle and Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, in June.
In May, the low-cost carrier will introduce two new domestic destinations — Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Wilmington, Delaware.
Avelo’s new Bahamas flight will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, using Boeing 737s, starting June 11. Flights to Wilmington will operate on Thursdays and Sundays, starting May 22. The Grand Rapids service begins May 23, and will operate Mondays and Fridays.
No other airline currently flies between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Grand Rapids, Wilmington or Nassau.
Nassau becomes the third international destination for Avelo from RDU. Last month, the carrier began flying nonstop from the Triangle to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Those flights are among the first international service from Avelo, which got its start in 2021. The airline chose RDU for overseas flights because the Triangle has been a strong market for the company, said Giselle Cortes, vice president for airport operations.
Avelo becomes the only airline to fly between RDU and the Bahamas. BahamasAir began flying nonstop between RDU and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island in November 2022 but has discontinued that service.
Avelo expects to fly the Grand Rapids and Wilmington routes year around, according to spokeswoman Courtney Goff. The Bahamas flight will be seasonal, Goff said, breaking in mid-September through October and returning in November.
The announcement Tuesday brings to 5 the number of new nonstop international flights that airlines will offer from RDU this year. In addition to the three Avelo flights, Bermudair will begin regular nonstops between RDU and Bermuda in April, while WestJet will begin flying from the Triangle to its hub in Calgary in June.
Altogether, airlines now offer a record 15 international flights from the Triangle.
RDU has aggressively recruited new airlines and routes, touting the Triangle’s growing, affluent population and offering financial incentives in some cases. Avelo is eligible for marketing support and fee waivers from RDU for the Bahamas flight, as long as the airline offers it for 90 days.
This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 11:41 AM.
