Wilmington airport to get federal grant for improvements

Wilmington International Airport is getting a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for improvements, according to a news release Wednesday from Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

The grant funding, which comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which Tillis helped negotiate, write, and pass into law, will be used to construct a new terminal access road and curb expansion.

“This funding will be used to replace the existing terminal access road and realign the curb outside the terminal, making access to the airport facilities easier and more convenient for passengers,” Tillis said in a statement. “I am proud to have helped author and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made this project and other critical infrastructure projects like it possible.”

More: Avelo adding two new direct flights from Wilmington International Airport. Here's where.

In a letter to Michael Whitaker, the administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration, Tillis and Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said the airport "is an economic engine for North Carolina's southeastern region."

The letter also cites a recent study that showed the airport generates roughly $2.5 billion in annual economic impact.

"In the last two years, ILM had record passenger numbers and passenger enplanements increased by 25%," the letter says. "Based on seat capacity, from January through September of this year, ILM is one if the fastest-growing airports in the country. We have been told that ILM’s aging terminal infrastructure is no longer able to meet currentpassenger demands and safety needs."

Earlier Wednesday, Avelo Airlines that it would be increasing its nonstop flight offerings from ILM to include Fort Myers, Florida, and Hartford, Connecticut.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington airport to get federal grant for terminal access improvements