Roberta Aguirre
Delaware is a US state with 40 airports, both public and private. However, from 2008 to 2013, it was the only US state without airports in the FAA category of commercial service. The Delaware River and Bay Authority operates five airports, including Wilmington Airport (IATA: ILG, ICAO: KILG, FAA LID: ILG), which is the only larger airport with commercial flights. The airport is located in unincorporated New Castle County, Delaware, near Wilmington, Delaware, and is owned by New Castle County.
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What You'll Learn
Delaware's biggest airport: Wilmington Airport
Wilmington Airport (IATA: ILG, ICAO: KILG, FAA LID: ILG) is Delaware's biggest airport. It is located in unincorporated New Castle County, Delaware, near Wilmington, Delaware. The airport is about 30 miles (50 km) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is just 25 minutes from Center City Philadelphia. The airport is owned by New Castle County and operated under a lease agreement with the Delaware River and Bay Authority. It covers 1,250 acres (506 ha) at an elevation of 80 feet (24 m).
The airport has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it was first named the Wilmington Airport and the Greater Wilmington Airport. During the war, the facility was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces and became the New Castle Army Air Base, facilitating the movement of aircraft to the British and other Allies. Members of the historic Women Air Service Pilots (WASP) served as test and ferry pilots and towed targets for student gunners. A statue at the airport today honours the women of the WASP.
In 1947, Wilmington Airport hosted Delaware's first airline flights with TWA and American Airlines arriving. Over the years, the airport has been served by various airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Skybus Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Avelo Airlines, which is currently based at the airport. The airport has three asphalt runways, with the longest being 7,275 feet (2,217 m) long.
Wilmington Airport has seen fluctuations in its commercial passenger service over the years. From 2008 to 2013, Delaware had no airports in the FAA category of commercial service. Scheduled commercial service resumed at Wilmington Airport in 2013 but was discontinued a few times between 2015 and 2023. Despite these interruptions, the airport remains an important transportation hub for the state of Delaware and the surrounding region.
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IATA code: ILG
The IATA code ILG refers to Wilmington Airport, formerly known as New Castle Airport, in New Castle County, Delaware. The airport is located near Wilmington, Delaware, and is about 30 miles (50 km) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is owned by New Castle County and operated under a lease agreement with the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
The airport covers 1,250 acres (506 ha) of land and has three asphalt runways. The airport terminal building does not have jet bridges, and air stairs are required for boarding and disembarking aircraft. Wilmington Airport is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The airport first opened during World War II and was initially named the Wilmington Airport and the Greater Wilmington Airport. During the war, it was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces and became the New Castle Army Air Base, facilitating the movement of aircraft to the British and other Allies. The airport has had a varied history of airline service, with several carriers commencing and discontinuing flights over the years.
As of 2023, Avelo Airlines provides service to Wilmington Airport, and it is the only larger airport in Delaware with commercial flights. However, passenger numbers at Wilmington Airport are relatively low compared to other US airports. The airport is included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, with plans for development and improvement.
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ICAO code: KILG
The ICAO code KILG refers to Wilmington Airport in Delaware. The airport is located in unincorporated New Castle County, five miles (8 km) south of Wilmington and about 30 miles (50 km) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is owned by New Castle County and operated under a lease agreement with the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
The airport covers 1,250 acres (506 ha) at an elevation of 80 feet (24 m). It has three asphalt runways: 9/27 is 7,275 by 150 feet (2,217 x 46 m); 1/19 is 7,012 by 150 feet (2,137 x 46 m); and 14/32 is 4,602 by 150 feet (1,403 x 46 m). The airport terminal building does not have jet bridges, so air stairs are required for boarding and disembarking aircraft.
Wilmington Airport, formerly known as New Castle Airport and New Castle County Airport, is the only airport in Delaware with commercial flights. However, passenger numbers are relatively low compared to other US airports. The airport opened during World War II and was initially named the Wilmington Airport and the Greater Wilmington Airport. It was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces during the war and became the New Castle Army Air Base, facilitating the movement of aircraft to the British and other Allies.
The airport has a varied history of airline service. In 2006, Delta Air Lines began flights to Wilmington Airport, but these ended in 2007, leaving Delaware without any airline service. Skybus Airlines then began service in 2008 but ceased operations soon after, once again leaving Wilmington without airline service. Frontier Airlines started service in 2013, increasing enplanements to 52,456, but discontinued service in 2015. Frontier resumed service in 2021 but discontinued it again in 2022. Avelo Airlines began serving Wilmington in February 2023.
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FAA LID code: ILG
The FAA LID code ILG refers to Wilmington Airport in Delaware. This airport is also known as New Castle Airport, New Castle County Airport, Wilmington-New Castle Airport, Wilmington/Philadelphia Regional Airport, and Greater Wilmington Airport. It is located in unincorporated New Castle County, about 5 miles from Wilmington and 30 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The airport covers 1,250 acres of land and has three asphalt runways. It is owned by New Castle County and operated under a lease agreement with the Delaware River and Bay Authority. The airport opened during World War II, when it was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces and became the New Castle Army Air Base. Its mission was to facilitate the movement of aircraft to the British and other Allies.
Wilmington Airport is the only major airport in Delaware with commercial flights, although passenger numbers are relatively low compared to other US airports. The airport has seen various airline services come and go over the years, including Delta Air Lines, Skybus Airlines, and Frontier Airlines. As of 2023, Avelo Airlines provides service to Wilmington.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assigns Location Identifiers (LIDs) to airports within the United States. These LIDs are typically three or four letters long and are used to identify aviation-related facilities, including small airfields that may not have other codes. LIDs are only involved in domestic flight operations and are not used internationally.
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No scheduled commercial flights
Delaware does not have any major airports with scheduled commercial flights. The state has a few privately-owned airports, but none of them can accommodate larger aircraft. Wilmington Airport (IATA: ILG, ICAO: KILG, FAA LID: ILG) is the only airport in Delaware capable of handling commercial flights. However, even at this airport, passenger numbers are relatively low compared to other airports in the United States.
The history of commercial flight operations in Delaware has been characterised by periods of activity interspersed with interruptions. In 2006, Delta Air Lines' regional affiliate initiated flights to Wilmington Airport, marking the first airline service in six years. Unfortunately, this service was discontinued in 2007, leaving Delaware without any airline service once more. Skybus Airlines stepped in to provide flights from Columbus, Ohio, and Greensboro, North Carolina, to Wilmington in 2008, but they abruptly ceased all operations shortly thereafter.
In 2013, Frontier Airlines commenced operations at Wilmington Airport, boosting enplanements significantly. However, this service was also short-lived, ending in 2015. Commercial service to Wilmington Airport resumed in 2021 through Frontier Airlines, but it was discontinued again in 2022. Avelo Airlines filled the gap by commencing service to Wilmington in February 2023, providing passenger service to five cities in Florida.
While Delaware's airports may not offer scheduled commercial flights, they do serve other important functions. For example, the Delaware Air National Guard Base at Wilmington Airport was used by former President Joe Biden for travel between Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Additionally, the Delaware Coastal Airport, also known as the Sussex County Airport, is located just 15 miles from Delaware's pristine beaches and offers convenient access to NASCAR racing, music festivals, golf courses, and historical sites.
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Frequently asked questions
ILG. The airport formerly known as New Castle Airport is now called Wilmington Airport, and its IATA code is ILG.
DE. The coastal airport in Delaware is also known as the Sussex County Airport.
Yes, there are around 40 airports in Delaware, both public and private. However, Wilmington Airport is the only larger airport with commercial flights.
