Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Emerald Isle:
CHERRY POINT MCAS /CUNNINGHAM FIELD/ (about 19 miles; CHERRY POINT, NC; ID: NKT)
CRAVEN COUNTY REGIONAL (about 28 miles; NEW BERN, NC; ID: EWN)
ALBERT J ELLIS (about 42 miles; JACKSONVILLE, NC; ID: OAJ)
As I recall last year, they recommended folks fly into RDU airport which is much more accessible than the smaller airports listed above, and they provided a bus from nearby Cary to the starting point in Asheville. I think bikes had to be shipped separately.