Airport Improvement Project Approaching Next Phase
By Christina Knauss
Horry County officials and members of the tourism industry are counting on a multi-million dollar improvement project at the Myrtle Beach International Airport to boost the Grand Strand’s reputation with vacationers and business travelers.
The overall project is expected to cost $129 million, and includes construction of a new commercial terminal, as well as a road construction project that punches Harrelson Boulevard through to U.S. 17 Business to allow for easier access to the airport.
A new general aviation terminal, also part of the project, opened to serve private aircraft in October.
Horry County Council Chairman Liz Gilland said in a recent interview airport planners are slated to meet with the area Community Appearance Board on March 4 to submit updated plans for a new commercial passenger terminal on the east side of the runway, adjacent to the current terminal. Earlier design plans for a west side terminal were turned down by the board because of concerns about traffic and noise.
“That was our stonewall that undid the terminal project on the west side, and their approval is critical to continue with work on the east side,” Gilland said. “We’ve worked closely with the board all the way, and we really think that all approvals will be received this time. Their approval would allow us to get our building permits and move forward.”
M.B. Kahn Construction of Conway is managing the overall project. No specific dates have been set for construction on the new terminal to begin.
Airport spokeswoman Lauren Morris said the new passenger terminal would add five more passenger gates, for a total of 12. The terminal will also include new facilities for ticketing, passenger screening and baggage handling.
The new terminal can’t arrive soon enough for members of the tourism industry, who say that an expanded airport means the ability to draw from a wider geographical base of travelers looking for a Myrtle Beach vacation.
“From our perspective, a growing air service to the Grand Strand is a key element to our marketing strategy,” said Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “This is a high priority for the Chamber and also Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. The project expansion of the current terminal is an essential component to tourism for the Grand Strand.”
Another focus of the reconstruction project has been to provide jobs for the area during difficult economic times.
Gilland said planners have broken up the project work into smaller increments so more local companies can make bids on the work.
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“We wanted to focus on hiring local workers – there’s been a concerted effort to do that,” she said.
There has been an ongoing effort to make Myrtle Beach International more competitive with other regional airports, especially in a difficult economic climate that has caused both business and leisure travelers to either cut back on travel, or be more discriminating about the prices they are willing to pay for tickets.
Statistics show that 743,206 passengers came through Myrtle Beach International in 2009. Morris said this was a decrease of between 5 and 6 percent from the previous year.
“Considering that overall air travel was down 12 to 15 percent, we were delighted,” Morris said. “Most airports lost service and capacity last year, and we gained new service.”
Morris said passenger numbers started to rise in the fall.
In fall 2008, Horry County Council voted to lower fees charged to airlines using the airport in order to attract more carriers and new routes to the airport.
Morris said the importance of the market and growing interest among travelers is evident in recent announcements of new service to the Myrtle Beach area.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air announced two new nonstop Myrtle Beach routes in the past week, including Youngstown-Warren, Ohio beginning on April 22, and Fort Wayne, Indiana beginning April 30. The carrier also plans to add nonstop service to Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 30.
American Eagle will begin service to Dallas-Fort Worth from Myrtle Beach on April 6.
An international link is also about to open up, when Porter Airlines based in Toronto will start nonstop Myrtle Beach flights beginning Feb. 27.
Airport planners are also reaching out to private pilots.
The airport’s new general aviation terminal opened in October and since has been drawing good reviews from local pilots as well as those who regularly fly in and out of Myrtle Beach from other areas. The terminal is expected to accommodate more than 45,000 people annually.
Morris said the old general terminal, which was located in a converted Air Force operations building, had long been inadequate to serve Myrtle Beach’s growing needs. The old terminal was demolished in early February.
The new 11,000-square foot facility includes an executive conference room, pilots’ lounge, training rooms and expanded parking.
“It’s a full service terminal like we had before, but its’ a much more modern professional facility,” Morris said.
“The general aviation terminal is a wonderful facility and it was long overdue,” Dean said. “It’s exciting even in this struggling economy to see that new terminal. That with the expanded commercial terminal and the completion of Harrelson Boulevard will be a mini economic explosion right in the central Grand Strand.”
Gillard said the general aviation terminal has been getting good reviews all around.
“The folks that work there absolutely love it, and pilots who fly in and their passengers are real impressed,” she said. “It’s a state-of-the-art building, a good looking building.”
To learn about Myrtle Beach International and airport redevelopment plans, visit www.flymyrtlebeach.com.
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