A task force has recommended that New Castle County not renew its leaser the Wilmington Airport, formerly Castle County with the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
A letter and white paper recommended the change.The county is looking at the issues, since it must decide whether to renew the lease for another 30 years by June 30.
The recommendation calls for a request for proposals to operate the airport, an approach that would allow the River and Bay Authority to be among the bidders.
“The people of New Castle County own our state’s largest airport and deserve to get the best value,” County Executive Meyer said. “I am grateful for the task force’s time and dedication to this important project, and we look forward to an exciting future for the airport as a hub of economic development in the region.”
If the county issues a notice of non-renewal, DRBA will continue to manage the airport until 2025.
In October 2019, Meyer named a task force of business and community leaders, local airport experts and elected officials to consider the current and possible new economic vision for the Wilmington Airport (ILG). The taskforce was headed by Alan Levin, owner of the former Happy Harry’s drug store chain and former Delaware Economic Development Office chief.
After a competitive bidding process, Airport Business Solutions analyzed and assessed economic opportunities to support the growth of existing tenants, new job creation and revenue generation at the Wilmington Airport. Airport Business Solutions supplied New Castle County and the task force with a detailed white paper that can be viewed HERE and the supplement HERE.
The taskforce will present their findings on Tuesday, April 28 at County Council’s finance committee meeting.
The DRBA has defended its management of the complex, citing continuing improvements and plans by Frontier Airlines to return to the airport. Due to the coronavirus crisis, Frontier is now posting a mid-November timeframe for offering flights from Wilmington to and from Orlando.
The DRBA manages many of the state’s airports, an exception being the Sussex County-owned airport and adjacent business area near Georgetown.
The DRBA was also able to pool resources and make other moves that ended losses for the airport, the original reason the county turned over management to the bi-state agencies that operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
(See the DRBA’s response below)
River and Bay Authority responds to task force’s recommendation to not renew lease
