South Carolina Airports - Complete 2024 Travel Guide

Location: Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, SC

2023 Passengers: ~400,000 (4th-largest in SC)

Airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Express

Runway: 5,000 x 100 feet (extended from 4,300 feet in 2018)

History: Opened in 1967 after Arnold Palmer requested an airport to access Hilton Head golf courses. First jet service began July 2018 with Republic Airways E175 regional jets.

Alternative: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (30 miles, 40-45 minute drive) offers more flight options.

Location: Florence, SC (8 miles from city center)

2019 Passengers: 44,333

Airlines: American Airlines

TSA PreCheck: Available

Service Area: Serves the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina with connections to major hubs.

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is South Carolina's busiest airport, serving 6,295,439 passengers in 2024, a 2% increase from the previous year. Located in North Charleston, CHS offers nonstop flights to 53 destinations across 2 countries with 13 airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest, United, and low-cost carriers like Breeze and Spirit. The airport is currently building a $348 million parking garage to accommodate continued growth.

Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) earned the #1 Best Small Airport in the U.S. award in the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. MYR served 3,837,052 passengers in 2024, a remarkable 14% increase from 2023, making it the fastest-growing airport in South Carolina for the third consecutive year. The airport is currently undergoing a $90 million terminal expansion that will add 6 new gates and 50,000 square feet of space, scheduled to open in late 2025. MYR offers nonstop flights to over 50 destinations through 10 airlines.

South Carolina has 6 commercial passenger service airports. The four major airports are Charleston International (CHS) with 6.3 million passengers, Myrtle Beach International (MYR) with 3.8 million, Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP) with 2.6 million, and Columbia Metropolitan (CAE) with 1.4 million in 2024. Two smaller regional airports, Hilton Head Airport (HXD) and Florence Regional (FLO), complete the state's commercial aviation network. Additionally, South Carolina has 66 public airports, 88 private airports, 34 heliports, 2 seaplane bases, and other specialized aviation facilities, totaling nearly 200 aviation facilities statewide.

South Carolina airports are served by 13+ major airlines. The major carriers include American Airlines (the largest carrier at most SC airports), Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Low-cost carriers operating in the state include Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Breeze Airways, Avelo Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. Premium carriers include JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines. Charleston International also offers international service through Air Canada (seasonal Toronto flights) and BermudAir (upcoming Bermuda service). At Charleston, American Airlines carried 1.15 million passengers in 2024, followed by Delta with 1.08 million and Breeze Airways with 675,000 passengers across 25 city pairs.

Charleston International Airport (CHS) offers several parking options at competitive rates. Economy Lots A and B are the most affordable at $10 per day with complimentary 24/7 shuttle service to the terminal. Daily parking garage costs $17 per day, while hourly parking is $3 per hour with a $21 daily maximum. Valet parking is available curbside at $25 per day. Travelers with valid handicap permits receive 48 hours (two days) of free parking in either the garage or surface lots. For budget-conscious travelers, nearby off-site options like Embassy Suites offer parking as low as $3.95 per day with shuttle service. The airport is currently constructing a massive $348 million, 1,200-space parking garage to meet growing demand.

Yes, TSA PreCheck is available at all major South Carolina commercial airports except Hilton Head. Charleston International has PreCheck lanes at both A and B Concourses, Myrtle Beach International offers it at the main terminal checkpoint, Greenville-Spartanburg has it at both GSP-A and GSP-B checkpoints (plus CLEAR enrollment on the 2nd floor), Columbia Metropolitan provides PreCheck at CAE-A terminal, and Florence Regional offers it at the terminal checkpoint. To enroll in TSA PreCheck, South Carolina residents can visit enrollment centers in Mount Pleasant (1485 N Highway 17, Tuesday-Friday) or North Charleston's Global Entry Center (5551 Porsche Blvd, Monday-Friday). The program costs $78-$85 for 5 years and provides expedited security screening at 200+ U.S. airports. Starting May 1, 2025, enrollment requires a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or passport.

Hilton Head Island has two airport options. Hilton Head Airport (HXD) is located directly on the island and served approximately 400,000 passengers in 2023, making it convenient for visitors staying on the island. The airport is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Express with regional jet service (E175 aircraft) that began in 2018. However, many travelers prefer Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), located approximately 30 miles southwest of Hilton Head Island (40-45 minute drive). Savannah offers more flight options, more airlines, better pricing, and more frequent service to major hubs. For travelers prioritizing convenience and willing to pay potentially higher fares, Hilton Head Airport is ideal; for those seeking more options and competitive pricing, Savannah/Hilton Head International is the better choice.

South Carolina airports offer over 200 nonstop destinations combined. Charleston International (CHS) provides 53 nonstop destinations including major hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Chicago), East Coast cities (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC), Florida destinations (Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale), and international routes to Toronto and Cancún. Myrtle Beach (MYR) offers 50+ destinations with strong service to the Northeast and Midwest. Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) flies to 29 destinations with connections to 200+ cities worldwide. Columbia (CAE) serves 13 destinations including Charlotte (49 flights weekly), Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and major East Coast cities. The longest domestic flights from South Carolina are Charleston to Seattle (2,409 miles via Alaska Airlines), Greenville to Los Angeles (2,051 miles via Breeze), and Myrtle Beach to Denver (1,480 miles via United).

To avoid crowds at South Carolina airports, fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which tend to be the least busy days of the week. Fridays and Sundays are typically the busiest travel days. For time of day, early morning flights departing between 7-8 AM offer the quietest airport experience, as most airports see peak traffic between 10-11 AM. Red-eye flights (after 10 PM) also tend to have fewer passengers. Seasonally, South Carolina airports are busiest from May through September during the tourism high season, with particularly heavy traffic around major holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day). The shoulder seasons of April and October offer lighter crowds. Among the state's airports, Columbia Metropolitan (CAE) and Florence Regional (FLO) typically have shorter security lines than Charleston, Myrtle Beach, or Greenville-Spartanburg. Myrtle Beach International, despite being busy, is praised for being "small, clean, and fast" with efficient navigation.

South Carolina airports experienced exceptional growth in 2024, with all major airports setting new passenger records. Myrtle Beach International led the state with 14% passenger growth, reaching 3,837,052 travelers and earning the #1 Best Small Airport award. Greenville-Spartanburg grew 12.8% to 2,612,236 passengers through November, making it one of the fastest-growing regional airports in the Southeast. Charleston International increased 2% to 6,295,439 passengers and added new international service including BermudAir's Bermuda route. Columbia Metropolitan surpassed its 2019 pre-pandemic record with 1,362,374 passengers and announced a fourth airline (Allegiant) starting service in May 2025. The growth was driven by several factors: more nonstop routes, expanded airline service (particularly from Breeze Airways and Allegiant), major infrastructure investments (Charleston's $348M parking garage, Myrtle Beach's $90M terminal expansion), and South Carolina's booming tourism industry attracting record visitors to the state's beaches, golf courses, and historic cities.