ILM on list of airports considered at risk

Wilmington International Airport has landed on a list of 100 regional airports considered at risk. A study conducted by the Business Travel Coalition says the skyrocketing cost of fuel could have devastating effects on smaller airports across the country, including ours. The study ranked Wilmington as one of 100 communities most likely to lose airline service. It is based on proximity to other airports and the ratio of business to leisure travelers, among other factors. The study says that airline service is in jeopardy because of rising fuel costs. But officials at ILM said don't worry, bookings are up. ILM deputy director Julie Wilsey said, "ILM has been growing at better than 20 percent in the past few years, and currently for calendar year 2008 we're six percent over where we were last year in 2007. So, business is still -- we're still growing." ILM added the low cost carrier Allegiant Air early this year. Wilsey said its Monday flight was more than 90 percent booked, inbound and outbound. A spokesperson for U.S. Air told WWAY today that the airline has no plans to cut flights. The only way it would do that is if the supply didn't meet the demand, and that is not the case at ILM.