Over the past three years, Wilmington International Airport (ILM) has experienced the fastest growth of any major U.S. airport, with a 66% increase in seat capacity from July 2022 to June 2025. This surge reflects significant airline investment in the Wilmington, NC market. New carriers such as Sun Country, Breeze, JetBlue, and Avelo have joined ILM, while major airlines like American, Delta, and United have expanded service and added larger aircraft. ILM’s nonstop destinations have skyrocketed from 9 to 29—an impressive 222% growth. Travelers now enjoy nonstop access to cities like Boston, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and Washington, DC. With over 500 destinations reachable via one-stop connections, Wilmington has become an increasingly connected and appealing city. Airport Director Jeff Bourk attributes this success to strong collaboration across local business and tourism partners—further showcasing Wilmington’s rising status as a dynamic place to live, work, and travel from.
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