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Wilmington's Airport a Hot Entry Point for the Rich and Famous
The stops are quick - usually a half-hour or less. Typically, the only local sight the famous passengers see up close is in the U.S. Customs building, which sits apart from ILM's main terminal, far enough away to shield them from adoring fans and prying paparazzi.
Bono,
De Niro and J-Lo
U2 lead singer Bono, actor Robert De Niro and NASCAR standout Dale Earnhardt Jr. have all graced ILM runways. The list goes on and on. Actor Harrison Ford, All-Star New York Yankee Derek Jeter and superstar singer Britney Spears and her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, to name a few more.
"You never know who's getting off the airplane," said Bill Cherry, president of Air Wilmington, a fixed base operator, which, like a convenience store for road travelers, provides fuel and other services to aircraft at ILM.
Candice Willis, 27, Air Wilmington marketing director, said she sees one or two celebrities a month on average. Recently, she's seen Jennifer "J-Lo" Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony, Latin diva Shakira and actor Johnny Depp, among others, she said.
"J-Lo and Marc Anthony are in here a lot," she said.
Several years ago, members of the band REM flew in to ILM and something happened with their transportation, so she drove them in her car to the main terminal to rent one.
"Apparently, they have friends on Figure Eight (Island)," Willis said.
Travolta's 'the nicest'
Celebrities find convenience and anonymity at ILM, where the U.S. Customs area isn't crowded, as it might be elsewhere. So the only people they typically see are the ones who stamp their passports and service their planes.
Bob Welch, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer for nearly two decades, said he's seen his share of celebrities and treats them like all other passengers.
