Savannah/Hilton Head Airport plans for expansion ahead of increased travel

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport will see upwards of 88,000 passengers during the Memorial Day weekend.

That’s a 9 percent increase from last year. Airport leadership says that comes from bigger planes with more seats as well as more flights.

With these passenger increases, the airport is going to need more room, and those upgrades are coming down the road. The airport’s marketing director told WTOC all about the upcoming changes to the airport.

In the fall, the airport’s upgraded security checkpoint will open, with more lanes and upgraded X-Rays that don’t need you to take your laptop out of your bag.

Also in the fall, they’re hoping to break ground on two new parking lots near the terminal.

WTOC has been covering airport parking all day, focusing on how the parking garage is full and the closest surface lots are filling up too. The airport hopes to address those challenges with the new lots.

With the construction of those parking expansions, airport staff say parking prices are going to be increasing too. They say haven’t raised their rates since 2008.

Airport leadership are also in the design phase of adding four gates to the end of the concourse, which also comes with a new dining area.

The airport is growing with our region.

“Savannah is a beautiful place. We get lots of visitors every year, and with Hyundai and everything that’s happening economically…more people are moving here. So you’re going to see those people traveling because they’re going to be going home, or if you’re new here you know, people are going to come visit you for the first couple years you live here. So we just have confidence in the region as a whole,” said Lori Lynah, Director of Marketing and Air Service Development.

You can keep up with all of the airport’s development on air and online.

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