Wilmington International Airport is a public airport located just north of Wilmington, North Carolina, in unincorporated Wrightsboro, Cape Fear Township, New Hanover County.As of the 2015 FAA Airfield Traffic Analysis (ATA), Wilmington International Airport is the third busiest airport in the state and number 8 busiest airport in the southern region of the United States.The airport began in 1927 as Bluethenthal Field, named for aviator Arthur Bluethenthal, the first Wilmingtonian to be killed in World War I. In the 1950s the airport became known as the New Hanover County Airport. In 1988 the airport added "International" to become known as New Hanover County International Airport. On December 17, 1997 the New Hanover County Airport Authority changed the name to Wilmington International Airport.In 2009, the airport served over 800,000 passengers. The airport has two runways and a single terminal which has eight gates. The airport is also home to three fixed-base operations (FBO's) which currently house over 100 private aircraft. There is also a 24-hour US Customs ramp for international flights wishing to stop at the airport. The separate terminal was built to serve the 3,200 international flights that land each year (private or charter). The airport's location on the coast, halfway between NYC and Miami, makes it a desirable and less busy entry point to the country. Aircraft seen at ILM are A319,MD 88,B717,B737, and the regionals CRJ2,7,9 and the E 170 and 190.Wilmington International Airport is owned by New Hanover County, North Carolina. The airport is leased to the Wilmington Airport Authority for $1 per year and expires in 2019. The current airport manager is Jon Rosborough, elected in 2001. The Wilmington Airport Authority has five board members: Chairman John D. Lennon, Vice chairman Dr. Charles R. Kays, Secretary Robert S. Rippy, Thomas C. Barber, and Dr. I. A. Roseman.