Thanks to additional airline capacity, Hilton Head Island Airport’s passenger boarding numbers are soaring. In fact, the Airport is experiencing record growth it has not experienced in decades.
More than 96,000 passengers made their way through the Island’s Airport in the first half of 2019. Compared to the same time period in 2018, it is more than a 225 percent increase in passengers arriving and departing from Hilton Head Island.
In 2018, the airport served a total of 78,795 (arriving/departing) passengers, which indicates the airport is well above target for a projected record year.
Airport officials attribute the growth in passengers to new air service and added seat capacity, both products of passenger demand and the newly expanded runway at Hilton Head Island Airport, which opened in July 2018. The year has seen the addition of new route and seat capacity by American Airlines as well as the entry of Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, providing locals and visitors with a total of seven hub-destinations during the peak summer travel season.
“The growth we’re seeing at the Airport goes to show how necessary these new flights were,” Airport Director Jon Rembold said in a release. “Whereas in the past, passengers had to often fly into an airport outside of the county and then drive, our new service options on American, United and Delta, allow passengers to fly into or out of Hilton Head Island Airport and truly start their vacation upon arriving. It’s a win-win for all of us.”
American, Delta, and United (seasonal) all offer passengers direct service to the island. Hilton Head Island Airport officials expect passenger boarding numbers to continue to soar throughout the remainder of 2019.
“Interest in flying to our airport doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon and we love it,” Beaufort County Council Chairman Stu Rodman said. “The Airport is an economic engine and every month we have increased boardings provides direct influence on our local businesses and tourism to the region.”
