More than one million passengers flew through RDU in January, an increase of more than seven percent over January 2024 but 22 percent lower than December. The typical post-holiday dip in air travel isn’t expected to last long as RDU prepares to welcome another new international destination this weekend. 

“RDU continues to add international and domestic destinations to its route map, with new nonstop flights to warm weather locales leading the way,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “We are pleased to welcome new service to the beaches of Florida and the Caribbean, and we expect those routes to thrive as travelers book winter getaways and start planning for spring break.” 

International Service: Avelo Airlines’ inaugural flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica, arrived on Jan. 12, marking the first time the airline has offered international service from RDU. Avelo will also begin flying to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Feb. 22. Both nonstop routes will operate twice a week from mid-November through September. Another international launch will take place in April when BermudAir begins service from the Research Triangle to the Bermuda Triangle. 

Breeze Expansion: Breeze Airways is growing again at RDU with the addition of five new domestic routes, including two new destinations. Twice-weekly service to Pensacola begins in late April, followed by Memphis, Rochester and Orlando in May and Albany in June. Pensacola and Memphis are new additions to RDU’s route map, and Memphis was previously the airport’s largest unserved market. Breeze began service at RDU in 2023 with eight destinations and now serves 26 cities.