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Wilmington International Airport, abbreviated as ILM, is a public airport located just north of Wilmington, North Carolina. The airport's name is derived from its three-letter code, ILM, which is used in its website address, signage, and commonly in reference to the city of Wilmington itself.
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What You'll Learn
ILM is the official name for Wilmington, NC Airport
The Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina is commonly abbreviated as ILM. The airport is located just north of Wilmington, in unincorporated Wrightsboro. The IATA code for the airport is ILM, and this is often used as a shorthand for the airport and the wider Wilmington area.
The airport was originally known as Bluethenthal Field, named after Arthur Bluethenthal, a former All-American football player and decorated World War I pilot who was the first North Carolinian to die in the war. In 1950, a large modern terminal building replaced the existing wooden one, and a control tower was built. The airport's name changed to New Hanover County Airport in the 1950s, and in 1988, it added "International" to its name. On December 17, 1997, the airport was officially renamed Wilmington International Airport.
The airport has been steadily growing and improving since its early days as a small grass airstrip. In 1927, the first landing was made by flight enthusiast Warren Pennington, who flew down from Rocky Mount in an American Eagle airplane. In 1929, Coastal Plains Airways began operations at the airport, marking the beginning of its growth. During World War II, the airport was used for military flight training and offered a complete bomber command station and facility support. After the war, the airport continued to expand, with runway renovations approved in 1968 to accommodate larger jets.
Today, the airport covers 1,800 acres and has two runways and a single terminal with eight gates. It serves as a gateway to the Wilmington area, offering connections to various domestic and international destinations. The airport's location on the coast, halfway between New York City and Miami, makes it a desirable and less busy entry point to the United States. With its growth and expansion plans, ILM, or Wilmington International Airport, is set to continue serving an increasing number of passengers in the years to come.
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The airport's name is derived from its three-letter code
The Wilmington International Airport, located in North Carolina, is commonly referred to as ILM. The airport's name is derived from its three-letter code, which is used as an abbreviation on IATA codes. The IATA codes are used to designate airports and are often used to refer to them informally. In the case of Wilmington International Airport, the three-letter code "ILM" has become so commonly used that it has become part of the airport's official name.
The use of three-letter airport codes can be seen in other airports as well, such as LAX for Los Angeles International Airport and PDX for Portland International Airport. The convenience of these short codes makes them popular among travellers and locals, and they often become synonymous with the airports they represent.
While the official name of the airport in Wilmington is the Wilmington International Airport, the use of "ILM" as its name and code is prevalent. This can be seen on signage around the airport, as well as on the airport's website, www.flyilm.com. The adoption of the three-letter code as part of the airport's name likely contributes to its recognition and popularity.
The history of the airport dates back to the 1920s when early aviation enthusiasts advocated for a designated landing field in Wilmington. By 1927, the airfield was established, and it was named Bluethenthal Field in memory of Arthur Bluethenthal, a decorated World War I pilot and former football player. Over the years, the airport expanded and underwent various name changes, reflecting its growth and changing management.
Today, the Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is North Carolina's fourth-largest airport in terms of customer numbers. It offers connections to numerous destinations within the United States and internationally. With its continuous growth and improvements, the airport plays a significant role in the region's accessibility and economic development.
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The airport is also known as Wilmington International Airport
The airport with the code ILM is located just north of Wilmington, North Carolina, in unincorporated Wrightsboro. The airport is also known as Wilmington International Airport.
The airport was named Bluethenthal Field on Memorial Day, 30 May 1928, in honour of Arthur Bluethenthal, a former All-American football player and decorated World War I pilot who was the first North Carolinian to die in the war. During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force for anti-submarine patrols and training using P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. The Army expanded the airfield with three new 7,000-foot runways. After the war, the federal government declared Bluethenthal Field surplus property and, under the Surplus Property Act of 1944, the facility was deeded to New Hanover County at no cost.
In the 1950s, the airport was known as the New Hanover County Airport. In 1988, the airport added "International" to its name, becoming the New Hanover County International Airport. On 17 December 1997, the New Hanover County Airport Authority changed the name to Wilmington International Airport.
Wilmington International Airport is North Carolina's fourth-largest airport in terms of customer numbers. In 2024, the airport served a record-high number of passengers, with 736,868 enplanements and 729,001 deplanements, totalling 1,465,869 passengers. The airport's location on the coast, halfway between New York City and Miami, makes it a desirable and less busy entry point to the United States.
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ILM is North Carolina's 4th largest airport
Wilmington International Airport, abbreviated as ILM, is North Carolina's fourth-largest airport in terms of customer numbers. The airport is located just north of Wilmington, in unincorporated Wrightsboro.
The airport's history dates back to the 1920s when aviation enthusiasts advocated for a dedicated landing field near Gordon Road. In 1927, civil engineer J.L. Becton designed the new airfield, which included two runways. The airfield was named Bluethenthal Field in 1928 to honour Arthur Bluethenthal, a former All-American football player and decorated World War I pilot who was the first North Carolinian to die in the war.
Over the years, the airport has undergone significant growth and improvements. During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces for training and patrols. After the war, the airfield was expanded with new runways to accommodate larger jets. In the 1950s, the airport became known as the New Hanover County Airport, and in 1988, it added "International" to its name. In 1997, the airport's name was changed to Wilmington International Airport, reflecting its ability to comply with international standards.
Today, ILM covers 1,800 acres and offers connections to various domestic and international destinations. In 2024, the airport served a record-high number of passengers, with a total of 1,465,869 passengers. The airport features two runways, an eight-gate terminal, and two fixed-base operators. The separate terminal for international flights and the airport's convenient location between New York City and Miami make it a desirable entry point to the United States.
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ILM has been used as an emergency abort landing site for the Space Shuttle
The ILM Airport, officially named the Wilmington International Airport, is located just north of Wilmington, North Carolina. The airport covers 1,800 acres and has two runways and a single terminal with eight gates.
The airport was designated as an emergency abort landing site for the Space Shuttle, along with three other airports on the East Coast of the United States. The improvements in the orbiter's braking system reduced the previous runway requirement from 10,000 feet to 7,500 feet, making ILM's 8,016-foot runway suitable for this role.
The history of the airport dates back to the mid-1920s when early aviation enthusiasts proposed the construction of a landing field near Gordon Road. In 1927, civil engineer J.L. Becton began staking out the new airfield, which included two runways. The airport, then known as Bluethenthal Field, officially opened in 1928 and was named in memory of Arthur Bluethenthal, a decorated World War I pilot and the first North Carolinian to die in the war.
During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces for anti-submarine patrols and training. The Army expanded the facility, adding three new 7,000-foot runways. After the war, the airfield was deeded to New Hanover County at no cost. Over the years, the airport underwent various renovations and expansions, including the addition of a modern terminal building and a control tower in the 1950s. In 1988, the airport's name was changed to the New Hanover County International Airport, and in 1997, it was renamed the Wilmington International Airport.
In addition to serving as an emergency abort landing site for the Space Shuttle, ILM has also been used for touch-and-go training flights by United States Air Force VIP aircraft, including the Boeing VC-25 (Air Force One). The airport's location on the East Coast and its runway length make it a suitable backup option for space shuttle landings when other primary sites are unavailable.
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Frequently asked questions
ILM stands for Wilmington, North Carolina Airport.
The full name of the airport is Wilmington International Airport.
The airport was established in the 1920s as a small grass strip. In 1927, it was named Bluethenthal Field in honour of World War I pilot Arthur Bluethenthal. In 1941, the airport covered 634 acres and several commercial airlines were bidding to include Wilmington in their routes. In 1950, a large modern terminal building replaced the existing wooden one and a control tower was built. The airport was known as the New Hanover County Airport in the 1950s and added "International" to its name in 1988. On December 17, 1997, the airport was renamed Wilmington International Airport.
ILM is currently researching ways to expand in the future, including terminal, concessions, parking, ramp, and jet bridge expansions.
