Avelo to Fly Nonstop From Lakeland to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Starting Nov. 18

Lakeland Linder International Airport will become the only Central Florida airport with nonstop service to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, after Avelo Airlines announced twice-weekly, year-round flights starting Nov. 18 — a route that spares Polk County travelers the long drive to Orlando or Fort Lauderdale to reach Puerto Rico's west coast. The City of Lakeland and Avelo announced the new service on June 24, with tickets going on sale the same day.

The flights will connect LAL with Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Introductory fares start at $90 one way, before bags and other fees. It is the first nonstop link between Aguadilla and any local airport — until now, the only Florida airports offering the route were Orlando (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL).

Why Aguadilla, and why it matters to Polk County

Aguadilla sits on Puerto Rico's scenic northwestern tip, a quieter corner of the island known for Playa Crash Boat — one of its most popular beaches — and the historic Punta Borinquen Golf Club, an 18-hole course set on a cliff above the ocean. According to the airport, it's a destination that draws both vacationers and travelers with deep family ties to the island, and Central Florida's sizable Puerto Rican community is well positioned to fill seats both ways.

Airport interim director Adam Lunn said Avelo's existing Puerto Rico flights have consistently ranked among its most popular, and that Aguadilla expands access to a part of the island most local travelers couldn't reach without a connection. CEO Andrew Levy framed the new route as a budget-friendly, stress-free way to reach the west coast's beaches and heritage sites without the headache of a bigger hub.

LAL keeps growing while bigger airports trim

The Aguadilla launch lands during what officials called an otherwise tough summer for Florida aviation, with major carriers reducing or cutting routes at Tampa and Orlando. Lakeland has gone the other direction. Since Avelo commercial service began in June 2024, the airline has grown its Lakeland operation from a single route to New Haven into 10 nonstop destinations, added a second based Boeing 737-800, and hired roughly 60 local employees. LAL is one of just four Avelo bases nationwide.

The airport says nearly 350,000 passengers have flown through LAL in two years — 48% local residents and 52% visitors arriving in the region — a split officials point to as proof the airport is both a community asset and an economic driver.

Part of a five-market expansion

The Aguadilla route is one of several new markets Avelo unveiled in late June. The carrier is also launching service to Concord, North Carolina, from Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa, and plans to begin flying to Key West in November. Lakeland's link is the only one of the new routes serving an international destination, putting Polk County travelers a direct flight from the Caribbean.

For details on schedules and additional Lakeland routes, the airport and airline are listing them at FlyLakeland.com and AveloAir.com.

Stay with Lakeland Community Website for more on LAL's growth, and read more business and development stories and local community news. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and join the conversation in our Community Forum — are you booking a trip to Aguadilla?