The airport opened before World War II, named the Wilmington Airport and the Greater Wilmington Airport. The facility was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces during the war. Under USAAF control, the airport became New Castle Army Air Base. Its mission was to facilitate the movement of aircraft to the British and other Allies. Members of the historic Women Air Service Pilots served as test and ferry pilots and towed targets for student gunners. There is a statue today at the airport that honors the women of the WASP that served their country in the time of need. After the war ended control of the airport was returned to civil authorities. A joint-use agreement was made between the United States Air Force and New Castle County authorities for a portion of the airport being retained for an Air National Guard Base. Trans World Airlines operated a large overhaul base for its overseas planes at the airport until 1957 when the airline moved it to the Kansas City Overhaul Base which became the basis for today's Kansas City International Airport. Delaware's first airline flights were operated byTWA and American Airlines at Wilmington in late 1947. By 1967, Eastern Airlines was operating Douglas DC-9 jet service into the airport with nonstops to New York Newark Airport, Philadelphia Airport, and Washington D.C. National Airport as well as direct flights to Atlanta and Charlotte.
1990s to present
During four periods since 1990, Delaware has been the only U.S. state without any scheduled airline flights: from 1993 through 1998, again from 2000 to 2006, from April 2008 until June 30, 2013, and since April 2015. United Airlines continued to serve Wilmington until 1991. USAir Express carrier Crown Airways provided scheduled service to Parkersburg, West Virginia briefly beginning in 1992 before its sale to Mesa Airlines.. is currently serving the airport In the late 1990s the county leased the debt-stricken airport to the bi-state Delaware River and Bay Authority, operators of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, on a thirty-year lease with the provision that the DRBA may seek up to two additional thirty-year leases. Since taking over operations, the DRBA made the airport profitable, upgraded many aging buildings, and built numerous new buildings and facilities on the property. Shuttle America offered scheduled flights out of Wilmington from the airline's founding in November 1998 until February 2000. They flew to Hartford, Buffalo, and Norfolk with 50-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8-300 turboprops. Shuttle America would eventually discontinue its independent operations and become a commuter affiliate of United Express and Delta Connection. On June 29, 2006, a Delta Air Lines regional airline affiliate began flights from Atlanta'sHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to New Castle Airport, the first airline service in six years. Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew 50-seat Canadair CRJ regional jets on two daily roundtrip flights. Delta Air Lines ended the Wilmington flights on September 6, 2007, leaving Delaware without any airline service. On March 8, 2008, Skybus Airlines began Airbus A319 jet flights from Columbus, Ohio and Greensboro, North Carolina to Wilmington. Skybus ceased all operations effective April 4, 2008, once again leaving New Castle Airport without any airline service. As of August 4, 2010, Avis Rent a Car System, LLC, Budget Rent A Car System, Inc., and Cafe Bama were the only tenants in the Main Terminal. On July 1, 2013, Frontier began their Airbus A320 jet service at Wilmington, initially with flights to Denver, Chicago-Midway, Houston-Hobby, Orlando, and Tampa. On June 26, 2013, Frontier announced nonstop jet service to Fort Myers would begin November 16. In June 2015, Frontier Airlines announced that it was ending all service from Wilmington because it was not a profitable operation. Service had actually stopped in April 2015, but at that time, Frontier claimed it was just a seasonal suspension of service. On January 24, 2020, Frontier Airlines has decided to restart service out of Wilmington. Delaware Governor John Carney and his officials held a meeting on January 28, 2020. Frontier Airlines service out of Wilmington will begin on November 12, 2020, with flights to Orlando three days a week.
Facilities
The airport covers 1,250 acres at an elevation of 80 feet. It has three asphalt runways: 9/27 is 7,275 by 150 feet ; 1/19 is 7,012 by 150 feet ; 14/32 is 4,602 by 150 feet. In the year ending October 31, 2011, the airport had 67,328 aircraft operations, average 184 per day: 85% general aviation, 10% military, 5% air taxi, and <1% airline. 219 aircraft were then based at the airport: 48% single-engine, 30% jet, 11% multi-engine, 9% military, and 2% helicopter.
