Skip to main content

Charleston Business

Airport Passenger Traffic Continues To Grow

Jun 01, 2018 03:18PM ● By Kathleen Maris
In April, 400,135 people flew in and out of Charleston International Airport (CHS), up 11 percent from April 2017.

CHS has seen more evidence of its growth:
- TSA at CHS is breaking records for the number of passengers screened before boarding departing flights.
- Lines at the airline ticket counters and in the checkpoint are longer.
- The parking lots fill much more quickly. Three times in May, the remote/seasonal parking lot, usually used only during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, was opened to accommodate overflow parking.

“That is a testament to Charleston being an internationally recognized city and top tourist destination. But it also is because we have great relationships with the eight airlines that serve our customers,” said Paul G. Campbell Jr., executive director and CEO of the Charleston County Aviation Authority. “The airlines are growing too, adding flights, new destinations and larger aircraft with more seats. We now offer nonstop travel to 28 airports in 24 cities in the U.S.”

Charleston International Airport has consistently set records for passenger growth for much of the last decade – even while the terminal underwent a major redevelopment between 2013 and 2016.

In April, 13,338 people moved through the airport each day. Ten years ago, it was 6,737 people a day. This does not include “meeters and greeters,” or people who come to the airport to pick up or drop off passengers, Campbell said.

So far this year, 1,245,256 million people have flown in and out of the airport. During the same four months of 2017, the total was 1,169,843.

“It’s more important now than ever that our customers follow the airline and TSA recommendations to arrive at the airport early to park, check in and go through security,” Campbell said. “That’s two hours for domestic flights and three hours if making a connecting flight to an international destination due to additional screening that is required.”