Avelo opens Boeing 737 International routes from Raleigh-Durham

On Wednesday, Avelo Airlines launched its first international service from North Carolina's Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Montego Bay, Jamacia.

However, it won't be Avelo's only route for long, as this week, the low-fare airline is launching services from Raleigh-Durham to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

A new international service for Avelo Airlines

On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Avelo Airlines flight XP698 departed Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) at 06:57 and, after a 2:42-hour flight, landed in Jamacia at Montego Bay Sangster International Airport (MBJ) at 09:39.

This first Avelo international service from RDU was operated with a 2005 Boeing 737-700, registration N721VL and MSN 34295 which departed MBJ at 11:04 and was back at Raleigh-Durham at 13:51.

Never an airline to miss the opportunity for a celebration, Avelo Airlines (Avelo) commemorated the service at Raleigh-Durham with a Jamaican flag celebration and sweet treats from RDU's La Farm Bakery.

Those lucky enough to be on the inaugural flight were greeted in Montego Bay with a water-cannon salute, festive music and a warm Jamaican welcome, while those on the return service enjoyed the water-cannon salute and more of the flag waving.

Avelo's mission is to Inspire Travel, and the addition of the new route from Raleigh-Durham International to the network offers customers even more choices.

Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said the inaugural international service to the Caribbean from RDU was a significant milestone for the airline. Levy added:

Both these new international services from Raleigh-Durham will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the inaugural flight to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) taking off on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

Avelo flight XP630 will depart at 08:00 and arrive at Punta Cana at 12:20 and then depart the Dominican Republic at 13:50 and arrive at Raleigh-Durham at 16:11.

Valentine's Day launch for Jacksonville flights

On Friday, Avelo launched another new route, with its inaugural flight from Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) to Northeast Florida's Jacksonville International Airport (JAX).

The flight was operated with a 2003 Boeing 737-700, registration N705VL and MSN 33785, that departed HVN at 08:06 and arrived in Jacksonville at 10:39 after a 2:32-hour flight.

Tweed-New Haven Airport is located on Connecticut's coast and is a convenient gateway to all 15 towns that make up Greater New Haven.

While New Haven, better known as the home of Yale University, is the second-largest city in Connecticut, it is also part of the New York metropolitan area.

The airport offers a smooth and simple alternative that makes returning to or visiting the area more relaxing than ever.

Avelo's aging but reliable fleet of Boeing 737NGs

According to fleet data from ch-aviation, Avelo Airlines has a fleet of 20 Boeing 737NGs with an average age of 17.1 years. The fleet includes eight 737-700s with an average age of 18.8 years and 12 737-800s with an average age of 15.4 years.

The 737-700 fleet comprises aircraft first delivered between November 2003 and April 2008, while the 737-800 aircraft were first delivered between December 2005 and August 2012.

The oldest aircraft in the fleet is a 737-700, registration N705VL and MSN33785, that was first delivered to Aeromexico in November 2003.

The remarkable thing about these older aircraft is that in 2024, Avelo ranked #1 in on-time performance and achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate in the airline industry.

In fact, the oldest aircraft in the fleet, N705VL, inaugurated the New Haven to Jacksonville route on Valentine's Day and regularly operates between four and six sectors daily.