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For the first time in a decade, you’ll be able to book a nonstop flight from Delaware to the world’s busiest airport.

Your chance comes this fall when fast-growing budget carrier Avelo Airlines begins flying from Delaware’s Wilmington Airport (ILG) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). It will mark the first regular nonstop service between the airports since Frontier Airlines began flying the route in 2014, according to airline schedule data firm Sirius.

Service begins on November 8, with Avalo operating two flights a week on Boeing 737 jets.

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American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines combined already offer about a dozen daily round-trip flights to ATL from nearby Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)—located just 27 miles northeast of ILG. . But Avelo will be the only carrier from Wilmington to Atlanta.

Not surprisingly, Avelo is the only airline offering regularly scheduled service from ILG, which is currently the only airport in Delaware with passenger airline service. ILG has struggled to maintain service over the past two decades, but Avello’s decision to expand there in 2022 officially put the First State back on the US aviation map.

In addition to the Atlanta route, Avello said it will bring back flights to three Florida airports for its winter schedule. Service to Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) also begins in November.

A new route to Atlanta and returning Florida will give Avelo 13 destinations from ILG; The carrier plans to base another aircraft there.

Tuesday’s Delaware expansion isn’t Avello’s only expansion over the past week.

The airline landed at Charles M. near Santa Rosa, California – about 60 miles north of San Francisco. Schulz also unveiled plans for additional service from its base at Sonoma County Airport (STS).

The airline is adding two new routes from this California airport. Flights from STS to Salt Lake City International (SLC) begin October 24, and intrastate service to Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Southern California begins October 10. Avello will offer bi-weekly flights on both routes, none of which are. Served by another carrier. Avelo does not currently offer SLC or ONT service.

As it does at ILG, Avello touts STS as a secondary airport for a major metro (in this case, greater San Francisco). Unlike Wilmington, however, Avello isn’t the only carrier here. However, it now offers the most destinations after making the airport one of its initial cities when it launches in 2021.

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