Airports

Wilmington International Airport is the prime entry point for most people flying into the greater Wilmington area. Myrtle Beach International Airport in South Carolina is nearly the same distance from Shallotte as the Wilmington airport (about 40 miles), so visitors traveling by air to or from the Calabash and South Brunswick Islands areas might do well to check flight availability via Myrtle Beach. Those traveling to or from Oak Island, Southport, Pleasure Island or points north will find Wilmington International Airport easier to use. Small aircraft destined for Brunswick County can use Brunswick County Airport, just outside Southport.

Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
1740 Airport Blvd., Wilmington
General Information (910) 341-4125

Administration Offices (910) 341-4333 

Wilmington International Airport is an entirely modern facility, but with Colonial-style architecture and wooden rocking chairs scattered throughout, it has plenty of charm. The recently renovated and expanded airport fronts 23rd Street, 2 miles north of Market Street, and by car is within 10 minutes of downtown Wilmington and about 20 minutes of Wrightsville Beach. Two airlines serve the airport offering non-stop service to Atlanta, New York, Charlotte and Philadelphia: the Delta connection, (800) 282-3424, and USAirways, (800) 428-4322. Short-term parking rates are $1 per half-hour, with a maximum 24-hour charge of $14. Long-term parking is $1 per hour, with a maximum charge of $8 per day. The first 15 minutes of parking is free in both parking areas.

Brunswick County Airport (KSUT)
4019 Long Beach Rd., Oak Island
(910) 457-6483

The Brunswick County Airport, named "The South's Best Airport'"by readers of The Southern Aviator Magazine in 2005, is a fast-growing, full-service airport located on the mainland side of the Oak Island Bridge. It especially convenient to Bald Head Island and the Southport-Oak Island area. It has 24-hour glide slope lights and a 4,300-foot paved runway that can handle general aviation aircraft from the lightest to fairly sizable jets. The airport is in the process of lengthening it to 5,500 feet with the addition of a full-length parallel taxiway. It supports instrument approaches (GPS). There are now 30 T-hangars and six commercial hangars with more planned. Services provided include: flight instruction, rental aircraft, a full-service aircraft repair facility on the field (Oak Island Aviation), an aviation paint shop, an aviation interior shop and a state-of-the-art computerized fueling system. With a fuel purchase, you receive one free overnight tie-down. In addition, there is a full-time skydiving and sight-seeing operator, and during the summer months banner towing along the beaches is available. The terminal houses airport operations, Creative Real Estate, Hertz rental cars and a bait and tackle shop. There is also a computerized weather graphics station and an Automated Weather Observation System with real-time aviation weather available at (910) 457-1710.

Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
1100 Jetport Rd., Myrtle Beach 
General Information (843) 448-1589

The Myrtle Beach International Airport is most convenient for residents and visitors in the extreme southern coastal area. It is serviced by the following major airlines: Continental Airlines, (800) 525-0280; Delta/ASA/Comair, (800) 221-1212; Northwest Airlines, (800) 225-2525; Southern Skyways, (800) 235-9768; Spirit Airlines, (800) 772-7117; USAirways, (800) 428-4322; and United Express, (800) 241-6522.

Myrtle Beach International Airport is in the midst of a $200 million expansion that will include a new commercial airline terminal complex. The terminal will have 14 gates with passenger boarding bridges and will accommodate aircraft ranging from commuter jets to wide-body aircraft such as a B747. Other additions and enhancements include a food court, new parking lots and rental-car facilities, and improvements to fueling facilities and infrastructure. The project is scheduled to be fully operational by 2009.

Short-term parking rates are first 15 minutes free, 75¢ for each 20 minutes after that; the maximum for each 24 hours is $21. No overnight parking is allowed in short-term parking. Long-term parking is $2 for up to two hours and $4 from 2 to 6 hours, with a maximum of $8 for the first 24 hours, then $7 for each additional day. Economy parking is $1 per hour up to $6 for the first 24 hours and $5 each day after that. Take advantage of the free shuttle bus service between the terminal and the economy lot; buses run approximately every five to seven minutes.

Odell Williamson Municipal Airport
N.C. Hwy. 179, 6070 Beach Dr., Ocean Isle Beach
(910) 579-2166

This small airport , owned and managed by the Town of Ocean Isle Beach, has no control tower and is suitable for light aircraft (up to 12,000 pounds). The runway, lighted by medium intensity edge lights, is 4,000 x 75 feet of asphalt. Trees parallel to the taxiway are within close proximity to taxiing aircraft. The airport offers tie-downs, and self-service fuel is available from Ocean Isle Beach Aviation located at the airport. A courtesy car is available with fuel purchase by contacting David Hill at  (252) 714-7244. At this writing permits are in process and materials are on hand to build a fixed-base operation at the airport site.

Air Charters,
Rentals, Leasing

If you're looking for a place to charter, rent or purchase a small aircraft, you can do it here. If your plane needs servicing or refueling, you can have it done here. If you want flight instruction, you can get it here. All the companies listed below are based at Wilmington International unless otherwise noted; not all services are provided by each company, but their staffs are knowledgeable and will assist you in finding whatever you need. (See also our section on Flying in the chapter Sports, Fitness and Parks.)