Wilmington Airport (Delaware)

Wilmington Airport
2006 USGS aerial photo
IATA: ILG ICAO: KILG FAA LID: ILG WMO: 72418
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	New Castle County, Delaware
Operator	Delaware River and Bay Authority
Serves	Wilmington, Delaware
Elevation AMSL	80 ft / 24 m
Coordinates	39°40′43″N 075°36′24″W / 39.67861°N 75.60667°W / 39.67861; -75.60667Coordinates: 39°40′43″N 075°36′24″W / 39.67861°N 75.60667°W / 39.67861; -75.60667
Website	http://flywilmilg.com
Map
ILG Show map of Delaware ILG Show map of the US Location of airport in Delaware/United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 9/27 7,275 2,217 Asphalt 1/19 7,012 2,137 Asphalt 14/32 4,602 1,403 Asphalt
Statistics (2013)
Passenger enplanements 52,456 Aircraft operations 53,255 Based aircraft 223
Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Wilmington Airport (IATA: ILG) (also known as Wilmington/Philadelphia Regional Airport, New Castle County Airport, or New Castle Airport) is an airport located in unincorporated New Castle County, Delaware near Wilmington, Delaware. Owned by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, it is five miles (8 km) south of Wilmington and about 30 miles (50 km) from Philadelphia. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.

Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 642 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2011 and 1,064 passenger boardings in 2012. Thanks to the inauguration of service by Frontier Airlines, 2013 enplanements increased to 52,456, though Frontier ended its Delaware service in 2015.

The airport opened before World War II, named the Wilmington Airport and the Greater Wilmington Airport. The facility was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces during the war. Under USAAF control, the airport became New Castle Army Air Base. Its mission was to facilitate 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. There is a statue today at the airport that honors the women of the WASP that served their country in the time of need.