ilm airport is moving more travelers than it did a decade ago, and leaders are now warning the facilities will feel the strain if upgrades do not keep pace. On Tuesday morning (ET), airport officials briefed elected leaders in Wilmington on passenger growth, budget expectations, and a Vision Plan update built to prepare for the next 10 years. The message was blunt: the growth is welcome, but the infrastructure bill is getting bigger.
Passenger growth drives urgency—and a $250 million project pipeline
Jeffrey Bourk, Director of ILM, told a room of elected officials, county staff, and media on Tuesday morning (ET) that Wilmington International Airport has climbed from roughly 760, 000 travelers about 10 years ago to 1. 8 million now. Bourk framed the surge as both an opportunity and a pressure point, asking, “What’s going to happen in the next 10 years?” before answering, “We’re going to double again and we have to be prepared. ”
Bourk presented a recap of 2025 and an updated Vision Plan originally devised in 2022, describing the airport’s intent to serve as a major economic driver and a “world class airport. ” He also outlined capital needs, saying almost $250 million in projects are on the books, with one already in the construction phase.
Among the needs he highlighted: expanding the passenger drop-off curb, enhancing parking, and modernizing baggage facilities. The briefing emphasized that more passenger throughput intensifies the demand for these upgrades.
Money, governance, and the 2026 outlook at ilm airport
The meeting brought together the seven-member New Hanover County Airport Authority Board, ILM staff, five county commissioners, the county manager, and additional county staff. The ownership and operating structure was part of the discussion: New Hanover County owns the land the airport sits on and leases it to the authority board; commissioners appoint members to the board; and the airport financially operates independently.
On finances, Bourk said 2026 operating revenue is expected to land between $21 million and $22 million. He broke down the main income streams as $3 million from ILM Business Park leases, $2. 5 million from aviation activity such as airline landing fees, terminal space rentals, and aircraft parking, and $15. 8 million from terminal operations.
He said the major swing factor in the 2026 budget is expected to be terminal-related, tied to how many enplanements come in this year—estimated between 850, 500 and 907, 000. Bourk noted that since last year, ILM recorded a 23. 2% increase in enplanements, describing enplanements as one-way travelers, while passenger numbers reflect round trips. He also said the airport hit its highest enplanement level in 2025.
Looking further out, Bourk told attendees that the Federal Aviation Administration expects local enplanements to reach around 1. 1 million by 2045, while ILM’s optimistic forecast is 1. 5 million.
Officials react: “Financially prudent, ” but growth pressure is real
Airport authority Vice Chair Jason Thompson praised Bourk’s management approach, pointing to staffing levels of 58 full-time employees and 12 part-timers. “It’s the most financially prudent organization I’ve ever been a part of, ” Thompson said.
Bourk also pointed to a strategy meant to keep airline costs competitive by keeping costs-per-enplanement low—around $3. 82 per passenger, compared to other airports charging $8. 53. He said this is driven by lower operating expenses and minimal debt.
On the debt picture, Bourk said the airport’s debt service is $2. 3 million this year and is estimated at $2. 2 million in 2027. By 2028, he said none will be on the balance sheet, as long as no new debt is issued—freeing up cash for capital expenditures as projects accelerate.
Quick context and what’s next: Vision Plan update heads to a joint public meeting
New Hanover County described the purpose of the upcoming joint session as the Airport Authority’s annual report and Vision Plan update. The Board of Commissioners will hold a joint meeting with the Airport Authority on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 8: 30 a. m. (ET) in the Executive Conference Room on the 2nd floor of Wilmington International Airport, at 1740 Airport Boulevard in Wilmington.
For ilm airport, the next signal to watch is how leaders frame the immediate project schedule and the longer-range funding posture in that public forum—especially as passenger growth continues to test curb space, parking, and baggage capacity.
