Charleston International Airport

In 1928, the Charleston Airport Corporation was founded and purchased {{convert|700|acres}} of land previously belonging to a mining company. Although privately developed at first, the City of Charleston floated bonds in 1931 to acquire a portion of the site for passenger service. Within ten years, three runways were paved and outfitted with lighting for nighttime operations. In World War II, control of the airfield passed to the United States Army though civilian service was allowed to continue to use the airfield. After the war, the airfield reverted to civilian use for a short time. In 1949, a new passenger terminal was built.

During the Korean War, the airfield was reactivated for military use and in 1952, the City of Charleston and the United States Air Force reached an agreement on control of the base and the runways—an arrangement that has been renegotiated over time and that continues to this day. In 1979, the civilian portions of the airport were transferred from the City of Charleston to the Charleston County Aviation Authority, which had operated two other airports in the area. The current terminal on the south end of the airport was built in the 1980s on land acquired by Georgia Pacific.{{cite web|url=http://www.chs-airport.com/About-the-CCAA/Airport-History.aspx |title=Airport History |publisher=Chs Airport }}

File:Charleston-Field-AFB-8594.jpg, a U.S. Air Force base]]

In October 2009, Boeing announced that it would build a major plant on {{convert|265|acres}} at the airport as a second final assembly site for its 787 Dreamliner commercial aircraft. The facility began limited operations in July 2011 and rolled out its first completed aircraft in April 2012. Additional facilities to complement aircraft assembly have since been announced by the company.

Since 2010, the airport's passenger figures have doubled.{{cite web |url= https://www.postandcourier.com/business/charleston-airport-saw-nearly-additional-passengers-in/article_41077776-2587-11e9-96a7-a3bc1c305600.html|title= Charleston Airport saw nearly 500,000 additional passengers in 2018|access-date=March 9, 2019|publisher= Post & Courier|date= January 31, 2019}} New services established by additional airlines during this time along with increased services from the three legacy carriers have contributed to this growth.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

In 2021, the newly established Breeze Airways announced that the airport would serve as a focus city for the airline and announced service to 11 cities.{{cn|date=September 2023}} In 2022, the airport authority announced a 20-year master plan for future growth of the airport, including the constructing of an additional concourse, adding up to 11 new gates, providing additional plane stands, and expanding parking facilities for vehicles.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/long-term-expansion-plan-revealed-for-charleston-international-airport/ar-AA13cc6A|title=Long-term expansion plan revealed for Charleston International Airport|website=MSN |date= October 21, 2022}}

The airport has had brief periods of international service. In 2001, Air Canada briefly served the airport from Toronto but ended service immediately after the September 11th attacks in 2001. Porter Airlines briefly served Charleston with flights to Toronto in 2015.{{cn|date=May 2024}} In April 2019, British Airways launched a seasonal route to London's Heathrow Airport. This was Charleston's first transatlantic flight. The first season ended in October. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service was suspended in 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.postandcourier.com/business/charlestons-british-airways-flight-wont-return-next-summer-due-to-pandemic/article_3f6347e2-3fd4-11eb-bc84-a34c9a3b5832.html | title=Charleston's British Airways flight won't return next summer due to pandemic | work=The Post and Courier | date=2020-12-16 | accessdate=13 August 2023 | author=Williams, Emily | archivedate=11 October 2021 | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20211011105121/https://www.postandcourier.com/business/charlestons-british-airways-flight-wont-return-next-summer-due-to-pandemic/article_3f6347e2-3fd4-11eb-bc84-a34c9a3b5832.html}} In 2023, Air Canada announced a return to Charleston with daily nonstop flights to Toronto starting in March 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html#/ | title=Flight Schedules }}

File:Charleston International Airport, Apr 2014.jpg

The airport consists of four general areas: the military area to the west, the airline terminal to the south, the general aviation area to the east, and the Boeing assembly area further to the south. The combined airport area of Charleston International Airport and Charleston Air Force Base covers {{convert|2060|acre|ha}} and has two runways: 15/33, {{convert|9,001|x|200|ft|m|abbr=on}} and 03/21, {{convert|7,000|x|150|ft|m|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/CHS/Charleston-AFB-International-Airport|title=CHS airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 3, 2022}}

For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2019, the airport had 118,211 aircraft operations, an average of 324 per day: 42% commercial, 28% general aviation, 16% military, and 13% air taxi. In May 2019, there were 81 aircraft based at this airport: 28 single-engine, 6 multi-engine, 43 jet, and 4 helicopter.

Joint Base Charleston owns and operates the runways at the airport and has an agreement with the Charleston County Aviation Authority to allow civilian use of the field. General aviation services are operated by the Charleston County Aviation Authority. Boeing South Carolina operates the Boeing assembly area.

File:CHS concourse A interior (32241690883).jpg

The current airline terminal completed a three-year, $200 million redevelopment project in 2016 which added five gates and significantly renovated the interior appearance of the facility.{{Cite web|url=https://charlestonbusiness.com/news/aerospace/70749/|title=$200M Charleston airport renovation wraps up|website=charlestonbusiness.com}} The original terminal was built in 1985 and was designed by Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff, Davis & Floyd, Inc., and Lucas & Stubbs.{{cite web|url=http://www.chs-airport.com/About-the-CCAA/Airport-History.aspx |title=Airport History |publisher=Chs-airport.com }}{{cite news |title=Airport Taking Shape|first=Eric|last=Wiesenthal|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8dbAAAAIBAJ&pg=2266,7854918&dq=en|newspaper=The Post and Courier|date=December 26, 1981|access-date=June 14, 2012}}

Both departures and arrivals are located on the same floor, with the departure area to the east end of the terminal and the arrival area to the west end. Flights depart from two concourses: Concourse A towards the east and Concourse B towards the west. Since 2015, a consolidated TSA security checkpoint is utilized for both concourses.{{cite web |url=http://www.chs-trip.com/progress-reports/consolidated-tsa-checkpoint-opens-april-15|title= Consolidated TSA checkpoint opens April 15|access-date=April 28, 2015}} Charleston International Airport is classified as a security-level Category I airport by the TSA. The airport is equipped to handle international flights.

Concourse A contains eight gates (A1, A2, A2A, and A3-A7) that are primarily used by Delta Air Lines and Delta Connection, with other airlines occasionally using gates as needed for overflow. Concourse B contains ten gates (B1-B10) and is used by other airlines serving the airport. Concourse B also contains the international arrivals facility.

Charleston International Airport is located near the interchange of Interstate 26 and Interstate 526 and is accessible from both interstates using International Boulevard and Montague Avenue exits. The airport offers a free cell phone parking lot for passenger pickups. For short-term and long-term parking, the airport offers surface or garage parking for up to 30 days. Rental cars from major companies are available. The airport completed a rental car pavilion adjacent to the terminal in 2014.{{cite web |url= http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140210/PC05/140219961|title= First phase of Charleston airport overhaul to be completed by mid-March|access-date=February 13, 2014 |work= Warren L. Wise|publisher= Charleston Post & Courier|date= February 10, 2014}}

CARTA, the regional mass transit system, serves the airport with one bus route that operates seven days a week.

• CARTA Route 11 is a local service that connects the airport to downtown Charleston with several stops along Dorchester Road and Meeting Street in North Charleston. Total trip time from the airport to downtown is usually 50–55 minutes.

{{Airport destination list | 3rdcoltitle = Refs | 3rdcolunsortable=yes

| Air Canada Express | Toronto–Pearson{{cite web|url=https://charlestonbusiness.com/1st-daily-international-flight-from-south-carolina-to-begin-with-new-carrier-at-charleston-international/|title=Airline new to Charleston bringing 1st daily international flight to South Carolina|publisher=Charleston Regional Business Journal|date=December 15, 2023|accessdate=October 26, 2024}} | {{cite web | url=https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html#/ | title=Flight Schedules }}

| Alaska Airlines | Seattle/Tacoma | {{cite news|title=Flight Timetable|newspaper=Alaska Airlines |url=https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/timetables.aspx|access-date=May 21, 2018|last1=Airlines |first1=Alaska }}

| Allegiant Air | Cincinnati
Seasonal: Columbus–Rickenbacker, Indianapolis, Louisville | {{cite web|title=Allegiant Interactive Route Map|url=https://www.allegiantair.com/interactive-routemap|access-date=October 17, 2020}}

| American Airlines | Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia
Seasonal: Washington–National | {{cite web|title=Flight schedules and notifications|url=https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|access-date=4 June 2024}}

| American Eagle | Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington–National
Seasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth, New York–LaGuardia (resumes June 6, 2025){{cite web |title=American Resumes 2 New York LaGuardia Domestic Routes in NS25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250219-aans25lga |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=19 February 2025}} |

| Avelo Airlines | Seasonal: New Haven | {{cite web|url=https://www.aveloair.com/destinations/|title=Destinations|website=Avelo Airlines|access-date=January 18, 2022}}

| BermudAir | Bermuda | {{cite web|url= https://charlestonbusiness.com/first-ever-non-stop-flight-to-launch-from-charleston-to-island-destination/|title=First-ever non-stop flight to launch from Charleston to island destination |date= November 14, 2024}}

| Breeze Airways | Akron/Canton, Albany (begins June 13, 2025),{{cite web |last=Abel |first=Cassie |title=Breeze Airways to offer low-cost flights from Albany this summer|url=https://www.news10.com/community/breeze-airways-to-offer-low-cost-flights-from-albany-this-summer/ |website=News10 |access-date=5 February 2025}} Cincinnati, Columbus–Glenn, Fort Myers, Hartford, Long Island/Islip, Louisville, Manchester (NH),{{cite web|url=https://manchesterinklink.com/breeze-airways-now-offering-nonstop-flights-from-manchester-to-orlando-charleston-and-fort-myers/|title=Breeze Airways now offering nonstop flights from Manchester to Orlando, Charleston, and Fort Myers|website=Manchester Ink Link|date=February 15, 2024|access-date=February 27, 2024}} Newburgh, New Haven,{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/breeze-airways-flights-tweed-new-haven-airport/3361955/|title=Breeze Airways to begin flying from Tweed-New Haven Airport|website=NBC Connecticut|date=August 13, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024}} New Orleans, Norfolk, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Providence, Richmond, Rochester (NY) (begins May 8, 2025),{{cite web |title=Breeze Airways offers flights from Rochester to 4 cities|url=https://13wham.com/news/local/breeze-airways-offers-flights-from-rochester-to-4-cities |website=WHAM|access-date=5 February 2025}} Syracuse, Tampa, White Plains
Seasonal: Burlington (VT) (begins May 30, 2025),{{cite web |title=Burlington airport announces new Charleston connection|url=https://www.wcax.com/2025/02/05/burlington-airport-announces-new-service/ |website=News and Observer|access-date=5 February 2025}} Los Angeles,{{cite web|url=https://www.live5news.com/2024/01/09/breeze-airlines-bringing-back-nonstop-service-charleston-lax/?outputType=amp|title=Breeze Airlines bringing back nonstop service from Charleston to LAX|website=Live 5 News|date=January 9, 2024|access-date=January 9, 2024}} West Palm Beach | {{cite web|url=https://www.flybreeze.com/shopping/en-us/|title=Explore Breeze Airways destinations|website=Breeze Airways|access-date=January 9, 2024}}

| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia
Seasonal: Detroit | {{cite web|title=FLIGHT SCHEDULES|url= https://www.delta.com/flight-status/search|access-date=4 June 2024}}

| Delta Connection | Boston, Detroit, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia |

| Frontier Airlines | Seasonal: Philadelphia | {{cite web|title=Frontier|url=https://www.flyfrontier.com|access-date=May 21, 2018}}

| JetBlue | Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York–JFK| {{Cite web|url=https://jetblue.com/wherewejet|title=JetBlue}}

| {{nowrap|Southwest Airlines}} | Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Dallas–Love, Denver, Houston–Hobby, Nashville
Seasonal: Austin, Kansas City (resumes June 7, 2025),{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines June 2025 Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241105-wnjun25add |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=5 November 2024}} St. Louis | {{cite web|title=Check Flight Schedules|url=https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html|access-date=May 21, 2018}}

| Spirit Airlines | Baltimore,{{cite web |title= Spirit Airlines Introduces Some New US Routes, Suspends Others |url= https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/spirit-airlines-introduces-some-new-us-routes-suspends-others |website=Travel Pulse |access-date=3 July 2024}} Boston,{{cite web |title=Spirit Airlines April 2024 Network Additions – 16OCT23 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231017-nkapr24 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=17 October 2023}} Detroit,{{cite web |title=Spirit Airlines July 2024 Dallas / Detroit Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240508-nkjul24 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=8 May 2024}} Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas,{{cite web | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/spirit-to-begin-nonstop-flights-from-las-vegas-to-charleston-s-c-2757640/amp/ | title=Spirit adds Las Vegas to Charleston, S.C. Nonstop flights in September | Tourism | Business | date=April 6, 2023 }} Newark, New York–LaGuardia | {{cite web |title=Spirit Airlines Launches Charleston SC Service From April 2023 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221215-nkapr23chs |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=4 June 2024}}{{cite news |last=Queen |first=Henry |date=August 31, 2023 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2023/08/31/spirit-adds-flight-from-tampa-to-charlotte.html |title=Spirit adds nonstop flights from Tampa to Charlotte and three other cities |work=Tampa Bay Business Journal}}

| {{nowrap|Sun Country Airlines}} | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul |

| United Airlines | Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Newark, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Houston–Intercontinental | {{cite web|title=Timetable|url=https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/timetable/default.aspx|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128165254/https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/timetable/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}

| United Express | Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles |

}}

{{Airport destination list

| Atlas Air{{cite web|title=Atlas Air Schedule|url=http://jumpseat.atlasair.com/travel/schedule.asp|website=Atlas Air|access-date=December 19, 2023}} | Anchorage, Everett, Miami, Nagoya, Taranto, Wichita–McConnell

| FedEx Express | Greensboro, Memphis, Nashville

| FedEx Feeder | Memphis

| Western Global Airlines | Fort Myers

}}

• December 31, 1946: A Douglas C-47 operated by Inter Continental Air Transport crashed after a missed first approach. He attempted to remain visual while flying below a {{convert|500|foot|adj=on}} ragged ceiling. Flying over dark, heavily wooded terrain, the left wing struck treetops, lost control and crashed {{convert|3.1|miles}} NW of Charleston. All five occupants (three crew, two passengers) perished.{{ASN accident|id=19461231-1| access-date= October 30, 2020| title=NC88873}}
• March 14, 1947: a Douglas DC-3 operated by US Airlines approached Charleston low and left of the runway, struck trees {{convert|3,800|feet}} from the runway, crashed and burned. Both occupants were killed.{{ASN accident|id=19470314| access-date= October 30, 2020| title=NC88804}}
• August 23, 1955: A USAF Kaiser-Frazer Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar impacted a tree and crashed after a takeoff for a night flight in a residential area, {{convert|1.7|miles}} SE of Charleston AFB. A fire erupted, destroying several homes. Reports said one engine was on fire when the crash occurred. Five of the 11 occupants on the aircraft were killed and four on the ground died.{{ASN accident|id=19550823-0| access-date= October 30, 2020| title=51-8165}}
• October 3, 1956: A USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II crashed on approach {{convert|0.9|mile}} NW of Charleston AFB when the pilot descended below minimums, struck trees and crashed. Three of the 10 on board were killed.{{ASN accident|id=19561003-0| access-date= October 30, 2020| title=53-0033}}
• September 18, 1979: A USAF Lockheed C-141 Starlifter caught fire after touchdown at CHS when the landing gear retracted along with several other mechanical issues occurring at once. The aircraft was destroyed, but there were no fatalities.{{ASN accident|id=19790918-0| access-date=October 30, 2020| title=64-0647}}
• November 2, 2020: Joel T. Drogomir was arrested on a charge "conveying false information regarding attempted use of a destructive device" after he falsely threatened to have a bomb.{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Fleming|title=Charleston man who falsely claimed having bomb at airport released with slew of conditions|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/charleston-man-who-falsely-claimed-having-bomb-at-airport-released-with-slew-of-conditions/article_68a488fa-2e72-11eb-bd1f-d781c00d2305.html|access-date=2021-03-07|website=Post and Courier|date=November 24, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-12-09|title=Man charged in airport bomb scare had razor blade in his shoe, Unabomber manifesto|url=https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/man-charged-in-airport-bomb-scare-had-razor-blade-in-his-shoe-unabomber-manifesto/|access-date=2021-03-07|website=WCBD News 2|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.live5news.com/2020/12/09/suspect-airport-bomb-scare-goes-court/|title=Suspect in airport bomb scare goes to court|first=Riley|last=Bean|website=www.live5news.com|date=December 9, 2020 }}

{{Portal|United States|Aviation}}

• List of airports in South Carolina

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Charleston International Airport}}

• [http://www.scaeronautics.com/ South Carolina Aeronautics Commission], official site
• [https://www.iflychs.com/ Charleston International Airport], official site
• [https://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/ Charleston Air Force Base] , official site
• [http://www.anna.aero/2013/03/06/charleston-international-airport-becomes-jetblues-76th-city/ Anna. aero article], analysis of airport traffic and serving airlines
• {{FAA-diagram|00076}}{{US-airport|CHS}}

{{North Charleston, South Carolina}}

{{Charleston, South Carolina}}

Category:Airports in South Carolina

Category:Transportation in Charleston, South Carolina

Category:Transportation in North Charleston, South Carolina

Category:Buildings and structures in North Charleston, South Carolina