ILM airport urges travelers to come prepared during busy holidays

WILMINGTON (WWAY) — ​According to the Transportation Security Administration, passenger volume at airports across the country are expected to be busier this holiday season compared to last year.

Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is no exception.

But, something new at the airport could help make navigating the crowd a little easier.

Deputy Airport Director Robert Campbell shared that people stood in lines as far as the eyes could see Thursday morning to catch those early morning flights.

There was a brief dead period mid-day, but that traffic did pick up again around 3 p.m.

Rest assured, ILM is ready for travelers.

Airport officials are recommending passengers arrive an hour and a half prior to their flight, as the airport sees heavier traffic during the holiday months like November and December.

“We did have another record month in the month of November in terms of passengers and we’re looking forward to a record year in 2024,” Campbell revealed.

He shared a few tips and tricks to make sure you don’t get caught in the hustle and bustle of the season: come to the airport prepared, and find parking early, which may be a little easier now that a new lot opened.

“Check your flight status with the airline and you can check out flyilm.com for our parking selections,” he added. “We did recently open up a five-hundred space economy lot. So, you do want to check out the website to see what parking option works for you.”

You should also know what is, and isn’t, allowed on flights, and have your identification and boarding pass easily accessible.

And, save your wrapping paper; If you’re traveling with gifts, have them in bags rather than wrapped when going through security check.