Over a three year period, ILM exhibited the most growth of any major US airport. During the period from July 1, 2022, through June 2025, ILM had a 66% increase in its seat capacity growth. This increase in seat capacity is a direct reflection of the investment airlines made in ILM and the Wilmington, NC market.
During this period, Sun Country, Breeze, and JetBlue started service at ILM and Avelo established a base of operations. Further, American Airlines, Delta, and United all added nonstops and grew in capacity by adding larger aircraft with more seats.
“Thank you, airline partners for your investment in ILM! The record setting growth ILM has experienced, now 39 months in a row, is a testament to what a strong business market and growing leisure destination Wilmington is,” stated Jeff Bourk, ILM Airport Director. “The collaboration between the County, Visitors’ Bureau, Chamber, and other public and private sector partners has been critical in supporting the new service.”
Nonstop routes at ILM grew from nine (9) nonstop routes to twenty-nine (29) nonstop routes, growing at an exponential rate of 222%. Early this summer, for example, JetBlue started nonstop service to Boston, United started service to Denver, Avelo added routes to Houston, Detroit, DC, and Islip, and Breeze announced service to Islip, Akron-Canton, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. In addition to nonstops, travelers also have a growing number of destinations, now over five hundred (500), they can visit with just one-stop through airline hubs.
Seat Capacity Growth at Major U.S. Airports*, YE Jun2022-YE Jun 2025
| Rank | Market | Growth |
| 1 | Wilmington, NC | 66% |
| 2 | Westchester County | 62% |
| 3 | Knoxville | 51% |
| 4 | Providence | 50% |
| 5 | San Francisco | 47% |
| 6 | Northwest Arkansas | 44% |
| 7 | Raleigh-Durham | 43% |
| 8 | Huntsville | 39% |
| 9 | Washington Dulles | 37% |
| 10 | Albuquerque | 37% |
*U.S. (excl. territories) airports with over 1 million departing seats for YE June 2025
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About the Wilmington International Airport: The Wilmington International Airport serves southeastern North Carolina with commercial air service on American, Avelo, Breeze, Delta, JetBlue, Sun Country, and United. These seven airlines provide nonstop service to a growing number of markets, connecting travelers to hundreds of destinations. In addition to commercial air service, ILM supports a growing general aviation community and has two FBOs, Modern Aviation and Aero Center Wilmington. The ILM Business Park encompasses 140 acres and is strategically located in an intermodal environment. The NCDOT Division of Aviation’s report estimated ILM’s economic impact at $3.3 billion. For more information on ILM, please visit flyILM.com
