In 1987, an ad hoc committee, appointed by the New Hanover County Commissioners, voted unanimously to recommend that the New Hanover County Airport (now Wilmington International) should be run by an airport authority created by an act of the state legislature and operates independently of the Board of Commissioners. This would not be accomplished until 1989 when the General Assembly ratified NC Chapter Bill 404 and Senate Bill 410, enabling the county to establish an official independent and autonomous Airport Authority.
