The Wilmington International Airport suffered between $1 million and $3 million worth of damage to its building, according to preliminary numbers released by airport officials Thursday.

FEMA is at the airport this week taking a look at damage caused by Hurricane Florence, said Gary Broughton, deputy airport director at ILM.

“The roof was the major cause of our damage, and we are looking at a range from $1 million to $3 million for repair,” Broughton said of the preliminary damage figures. “And that depends on what else they find up there [and] if it's just a repair or replacement.”

The airport's finance director has been busy this week working directly with FEMA, which is currently conducting an inspection, Broughton said.

Damage inside the airport has been mitigated; however, restoring the airport back fully will take more time, due to a bidding process required for the work, he said.

During the storm, airlines canceled 153 flights. Despite damage to the airport, ILM is operating normally, Broughton said.

ILM's monthly revenue in September was at more than $809,600, down from nearly $841,800 in September 2017, a 3.8 percent decrease. Year-to-date revenue for the airport, however, is up 9 percent.

And in the meantime, the airport is pushing forward with its terminal expansion, which is currently underway with changes to the TSA baggage screening area, said Granseur Dick, planning and development director at ILM.

"Basically this is stuff that the public doesn't see," Broughton said of the first round of work.

ILM is also going to be purchasing two new jet bridges, one to replace the oldest bridge (currently out of service) on-site and the other to "facilitate growing passenger numbers," Dick said. 

The airport received approval from the New Hanover County Airport Authority for a change of order for the $1.8 million purchase. Dick said ILM anticipates both jet bridges could be installed by next summer.

These would be in addition to the new jet bridge ordered and installed this year at ILM for Gate 1 access for United Airlines, which is the airport's newest carrier.

ILM is also seeking money from the FAA to build a proposed air carrier apron expansion. The estimated cost of the project is $5.4 million.

"If we receive that grant, it will go to expand the apron to be used by commercial aircraft," Dick said.

While not part of the overall terminal expansion project, it is part of general expansion plans at ILM, he said.

The apron will give commercial airlines more parking positions, which would allow ILM to accommodate what aircraft traffic ILM currently has and allow for more growth, Broughton said.

That would, in turn, give the airport more flexibility with scheduling airlines, Dick added.

"As the terminal grows, the apron has to grow," Broughton said. "There has to be more room for aircraft parking."