ILM — one of North Carolina's airports, which has been growing in leaps and bounds to hold its place as the fourth-largest in the state — has good news for holiday-goers. A seasonal route has been designed to serve the large crowds expected to crisscross America during the forthcoming Christmas festivities. And ILM is no stranger to reading the market and making the necessary adjustments to meet travellers' demands: it is exactly this instinct that propelled it from a small airfield first named Bluethenthal Field to international status, rebranding as Wilmington International Airport — ILM in IATA codes.
Seasonal holiday service
Wilmington City
North Carolina — and Wilmington City in particular — can only be described as a hidden jewel, thanks to its convergence of attractions. It is home to the remnants of WWII's most adored battleship, said to have won fifteen battles: the Battleship North Carolina. The Cape Fear River gets swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean here; spectacular beaches, a historic downtown, and a bounty of other attractions make a perfect delight for travellers. It's simply a good destination for holiday-goers — did we mention the family-friendly museums, a favorite of people of all ages? With all this in mind, the brilliant brains behind business development at the airport seem to be doing their homework well: studying past trends and preparing for the future.
The Season
This route is special, and it has been received well — it is, so far, the only direct route from ILM into the Central Time Zone. From December 23, Dallas, Texas becomes closer to Wilmington, with seasonal flights operating all the way until January 7: a crucial period every year, characterized by jammed airports and fully booked hotels amid the rush of holiday-loving people. The flight is expected to make it easier to connect onward beyond Dallas to Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle — all magnets for holiday-goers.
American Airlines
The flights come courtesy of American Airlines, with bookings opened on September 22. ILM moves around 50,000 travellers monthly, but the figure shoots to about 62,000 during the December holidays. While thanking American Airlines for its partnership with ILM — and now for the timely direct flight between DFW and ILM — Wilsey, the Airport Director, expressed her optimism:
"Our community has expressed a strong desire to have a non-stop service between ILM and DFW, and we are thankful our partners at American Airlines are offering this seasonal non-stop holiday service." Julie Wilsey, Airport Director · via Wilmingtonbiz.com
So if you're thinking of a holiday via that route, you can always hop on — just make the necessary arrangements before it's too late.