Local Groups Urge Travelers to Choose Airline Based on Ethics over Avelo-ICE Pact

Several outspoken local communities, encompassing the Immigrant Allies Forum, the Wilmington section of the Democratic Socialists of America, and Indivisible Wilmington, have been making their presence felt along the route to Wrightsville Beach. Their core message to holiday-goers is clear: ‘choose your airlines based on your morals.’ The choice of this demonstration location is strategic, aimed at maximizing exposure to travelers of Avelo’s arrangement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to offer flights specifically for deportations.

The crux of the issue these groups raise stems from Avelo, a budget airline servicing 23 US states, which earlier this year, entered into a pact with ICE. The protestors claim that local county funds have been funneled into promoting Avelo and the locations they service, including Wilmington, in an attempt to draw in more tourists. They prompt people to consider the ethical implications hidden behind Avelo’s low-priced tickets.

Operating from its new hub in Wilmington established in April, Avelo has been the target of citywide protests. The root of these started right outside the airport with one single demonstration in May, which gradually evolved into a widespread national campaign in subsequent months. The groups’ ultimate aim is to inflict financial repercussions on the airline, thereby pressuring them to break their contract with ICE.

The effort to stand against Avelo’s deportation flights has morphed into a nationwide movement, with protests sparking off in many of Avelo’s operational cities. A protestor expounded, ‘Avelo Airlines is a commercial entity and at present, the only one of its kind to hold a contract with ICE. Their conduct of deportation flights from Arizona to El Salvador is troubling, hence our call to boycott.’

Although the question of immigration conjures a divide in public opinion, and shifting prevailing mindsets may prove challenging, these activists, on both a local and national level, hope to influence travelers to reconsider their airline selection. They are witnessing small victories; as a protestor observes, ‘Avelo’s recent flight cancellations and route cutbacks in several areas across the nation, though not yet seen in Wilmington, provide a glimpse of change.’

The idea is to initiate ripple effects with these localized movements that could ultimately expedite significant changes in the city. Seeking to justify its alliance with ICE, Avelo cites their financial equilibrium as a motivating factor.

One activist who also heads a steering committee within these advocacy groups issued a public records ask to the New Hanover County Airport Authority. Subsequent to a few months, the Deputy Airport Director clarified that they did not give any financial provisions for Avelo, nor have they sanctioned any budget amendments catering to the airline.

To corroborate the statement, the deputy director shared a replica of Avelo’s tenancy pact, which he mentioned is a common agreement with all the airlines operating from the airport. He further relayed details of the authority’s rewards scheme, which applies uniformly to all airlines.

However, following a series of email exchanges, he admitted that local funds have been utilized to promote Avelo flights and the ILM Airport after Avelo commenced operations. Since starting operations, Avelo has materialistically contributed to the local economy.

In contrast, one protestor contested these claims, ‘Scrutinizing the data that showcases tourist spending in New Hanover County amounted to $1.1 billion in 2023, it’s hard to credit Avelo for a hefty portion of the economic activity. Considering that the total annual GDP for the county stands just below $20 billion for the past fiscal year.’

Adding to this argument, the protestor expressed further concerns, ‘This distracts from a deeper ethical dilemma. How can we simply turn a blind eye to Avelo’s involvement in these dubious and most likely illegal deportation flights just because the county profits from their other services? There’s an ethical cost to allowing these actions to proceed, and it’s time we assessed the price we’re willing to pay.’

This discourse arouses the question of our collective ethical capacity to permit such controversial deportation flights simply because ancillary profits are reaped from Avelo’s operations. Eschewing monies that stem from such actions might be the necessary cost to uphold our moral integrity.

The protestors’ shared sentiment questions the worth we assign to our collective moral compass if we simply allow these ethically challenging deportation flights to continue. Considering the economic impact, striking a balance between morality and financial gains has been brought to the forefront.

As the nationwide campaign against Avelo strengthens, the airline is being urged to reevaluate its pact with ICE. Although the company defends its decision as a need for economic stability, the public outcry suggests a strong demand for ethical business practices that outweigh the benefits of financial steadiness.

Across the cities where Avelo operates, public advocacy groups continue to campaign, seeking to influence both the company and the everyday traveler. As the debate over ethical business practices continues, it becomes more apparent that the contentious issue goes beyond economics, prompting a reassessment of our collective responsibility and the moral price we as a society are willing to pay.