Airport Overview
Wilmington Airport (KILG), formerly New Castle Airport, is a public-use airport owned and operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority in New Castle, Delaware, about 5 miles south of downtown Wilmington. It is the Delaware Valley's leading general and business aviation field and a practical reliever for travelers seeking to avoid the congestion of Philadelphia International just to the north.
Runway Capability
The 7,012-foot primary runway 01/19 accommodates the full range of business jets, from light jets through super-midsize and most heavy aircraft such as the Gulfstream G650 and Bombardier Global series under normal weight and temperature conditions. Operators planning long-range departures at maximum gross weight should run standard performance calculations, but the runway length and low field elevation make ILG a comfortable jet field rather than a runway-limited one.
Charter Considerations
As an established business-aviation airport with two competing FBOs, ILG offers strong aircraft availability and ground-handling options for the Wilmington, northern Delaware, and Philadelphia suburban market. The Jet Finder sources FAA Part 135 aircraft positioned near KILG and checks for repositioning legs through the field to reduce empty-leg costs on one-way charters.
Customs & International Access
Wilmington Airport offers U.S. Customs and Border Protection service for international arrivals, and is a CBP biometric processing location. International operators should coordinate clearance and FBO handling in advance, as customs is available on a scheduled basis rather than around the clock. This makes ILG a viable port of entry for the Delaware and greater Philadelphia region.
Safety & Planning
ILG is a towered airport with published instrument approaches including an ILS, supporting reliable scheduling through the four-season Mid-Atlantic climate. Winter frontal passages can drop ceilings to IFR minimums and bring occasional freezing precipitation; summer convection peaks in late afternoon, so morning departures generally encounter smoother conditions. Instrument currency is recommended for dependable year-round operations.
Regional Context
Wilmington's compact geography and position between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. make ILG a convenient, lower-traffic alternative to the major metro airports. For corporate travelers headed to northern Delaware, the Brandywine Valley, or the Philadelphia suburbs, ILG often delivers shorter ground transfer times and faster ramp access than the congested air-carrier fields nearby.