Activists Target Avelo Airlines Over Deportation Flights Collaboration

Numerous activists like the Immigrant Allies Forum, Act Together Wilmington, and the Democratic Socialists of America’s Wilmington Chapter have gathered along the path towards Wrightsville Beach, aptly appealing to holiday-goers to ‘stand by their principles’. One of the key organizing figures mentioned the motivation behind selecting this protest site was to spread knowledge among the ample number of vacationers about Avelo’s newfound collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate flights for deportations.

The organizer pointed out that Avelo had been beneficiaries of county funds to market Wilmington among other destinations, with a mission to attract tourists to the city. The objective of the protests, the organizer explained, is to make people realize that even though Avelo offers budget-friendly fares, it comes at an unseen yet significant cost to human rights.

Offering affordable journey options, Avelo Airlines operates its flights across 23 states. Just last April, the airlines announced the opening of a new branch in Wilmington. Following this announcement, protests began mushrooming throughout the city. The inaugural protest against Avelo took place right outside the airport, in May.

This initial effort against Avelo’s practices soon grew into a comprehensive, cooperative campaign at a national scale aimed at put a strain on Avelo’s business operations due to its partnership with ICE. One spokesperson for the protestors captured this sentiment as they stated, ‘The face of this campaign now spans across the nation, and we are part of this extensive nationwide protest. The fundamental message is expressed in many of the cities where Avelo operates.’

Expanding upon the details of the issue at hand, a protestor clarified, ‘Avelo Airlines is a commercial entity, the sole one in its sector that has a contractual understanding with ICE. They routinely facilitate deportation flights from Arizona to El Salvador. Hence, the objective of our protest is to inspire people to opt for boycotting them.’

Despite the differences in opinion on the topic of immigration and the tenacity required to shift perceptions, local and international activists alike are hoping to effect a change in passenger airline preferences. As one protestor optimistically observed, ‘The campaign seems to be making a difference. Not too long ago, Avelo began suspending its flights and reducing its operations in other parts of the country, although not here in Wilmington.’ Hope is brewing that these targeted efforts may push for transformative changes.

Avelo, on the other hand, justified its collaboration with ICE as a necessity for maintaining financial equilibrium. Meanwhile, an active member of one of the advocacy groups’ steering committee submitted a public records request to the New Hanover County Airport Authority. In the subsequent months, he received communication from the Deputy Airport Director indicating that neither had there been funds allocated for Avelo nor the budget amendments approved.

The Deputy Director shared a standard lease agreement, which he mentioned is similar for all airline operators at ILM. He also attached the authorities’ incentive program that applies to every airline. However, further email exchanges led to a revelation that money allocated for local marketing was indeed used to promote Avelo flights and ILM Airport post Avelo’s operational commencement.

There’s no denying Avelo’s profound impact on the local economy since it started its operations. One of the protestors made a valid point, ‘(It is) challenging to reconcile the fact that total tourist expenditure in New Hanover County stood at $1.1 billion in 2023. Considering the county’s annual GDP was less than $20 billion in the most recent fiscal year reported, attributing such immense economic activity to Avelo seems overly exaggerated.’

The protestor also addressed another critical issue, ‘This, however, circumvents the actual ethical concern. Are we prepared to turn a blind eye to Avelo’s involvement in prohibited and inhumane deportation flights purely because we gain from their other operations? What are we equating our morality’s worth to, if we are okay with permitting these deportation flights to proceed?’

This questioning stance encapsulates the moral dilemma faced by many and underscores the intention behind the protests. The challenge ahead consists not only of making the public aware of the ethically complex situation but also of advocating for a resolution that aligns with public values while being economically feasible.

The role of Avelo Airlines and its operations present a unique situation: the juxtaposition of economic gain with ethically challenging decisions. The public, as well as activist groups, are caught in a question of ‘profit versus principles’, prompting substantial reflection on the nature of business conduct and its long-term effects on society.

While the protest persists, the tougher conversation about the price of profit, ethics in business, and the potential social consequences of supporting such enterprises are brought to the forefront for a broader public discourse.