Activists Protest Avelo’s Association with Deportation Flights

Local activist organizations, such as the Forum of Immigrant Supporters, Wilmington Action Committee, and the Socialist Democrats of Wilmington, staged a protest along the main thoroughfare to Wrightsville Beach. Their message to potential vacationers was to ‘personify their principles.’ The event’s organizer explained that the site was chosen for the protest to raise awareness among as many travelers as possible concerning the association Avelo Airlines formed with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation flights, earlier in the year.

Cognizant of the county funding provided to Avelo to promote travel to Wilmington and its surrounds, the activists are keen to ensure people understand their ticket purchase might weigh heavily in human rights currency. Avelo Airlines, a budget carrier operating in 23 states, launched a new hub in Wilmington in April. The start of Avelo’s operations in Wilmington was soon followed by an eruption of demonstrations throughout the city.

These demonstrations against Avelo began in May, directly outside the airport, but this is the first time they are part of a national effort aimed at placing ‘commercial pressure’ on the airline since the agreement was made. Humbled to be part of the larger campaign, the organizer declared: ‘This is a national campaign now, and we’re overjoyed to join today’s nationwide protest. Uprisings like this are happening far and wide, wherever Avelo has a footprint.’

One vocal protester emphasized, ‘Avelo Airlines is a commercial airline, distinctively holding a contract with ICE. They’re ferrying people in deportation flights from Arizona all the way to El Salvador. We’re here to earnestly ask people to refrain from using them.’ Even though the immigration topic doesn’t see univocal agreement, and persuading people to alter their views might be challenging, both local and national lobbyists wish for travelers to at least reconsider their airline preference.

One keen protester sees the effectiveness in these collective actions, ‘The impact is apparent, just a few weeks ago, Avelo canceled some flights, pruned some of its routes, not here in Wilmington, but other regions in the country.’ The aspiration is that these communal endeavors will stimulate substantial changes locally.

In defense of its contentious choice to collaborate with ICE, Avelo referred to its requirement for economic resilience. In response to these actions, a steering committee member of one of the protesting groups sought public records regarding Avelo from the New Hanover County Airport Authority.

After a wait of many weeks, the Airport’s Deputy Director clarified that the Authority neither allocated funds to Avelo nor endorsed any budget amendments related to the airline. He disclosed a copy of Avelo’s standard lease agreement, similar to those of all other airlines stationed at ILM, and handed over documents related to the airport’s incentive program available for all.

However, following numerous correspondences, he conceded that the local marketing budget was used to promote Avelo flights and ILM Airport ever since Avelo commenced operations.

The operations of Avelo Airlines have had a considerable impact on the local economy. One demonstrator expressed their skepticism, remarking, ‘It’s difficult to reconcile the data, showing that the total expenditure by tourists in New Hanover County was $1.1 billion in 2023. With the entire annual county GDP being less than $20 billion in the last fiscal year reported, it’s challenging to attribute so much economic activity to Avelo.’

He further stressed on the essence of the issue, ‘The real ethical dilemma here is whether we’re comfortable ignoring Avelo’s role in deportation flights considered unlawful and inhumane, merely because we benefit from their other ventures. Are we placing a price on our own sense of morality by permitting the continuation of these deportation flights?’