With more people moving to Wilmington than ever before, it’s no surprise the city’s airport is also seeing record growth. In fact, Wilmington International Airport (ILM) just claimed the title of the fastest-growing airport in the entire country.
Between July 2022 and June 2025, ILM increased its seating capacity by a whopping 66%. That’s more growth than major hubs like San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham, and Washington, D.C. The only other airport that came close was Westchester County Airport in New York, which saw a 62% jump.
Several factors have fueled ILM’s rise. In the past three years, airlines like Sun Country, Breeze, and JetBlue started serving Wilmington. Avelo Airlines added a base of operations here, and legacy carriers—American, Delta, and United—expanded their offerings by adding bigger planes and more flights.
As a result, the number of nonstop destinations from Wilmington skyrocketed from nine to 29. Travelers can now fly directly to cities like Boston, Denver, Houston, Detroit, Tampa, and Washington, D.C., making it easier than ever to get where they’re going.
The airport’s rapid expansion reflects Wilmington’s growing reputation as both a business hub and a leisure destination. It also highlights the strong partnerships between ILM and local organizations working together to support the region’s continued growth.