MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – More than 1.8 million passengers traveled through Myrtle Beach International Airport last year; and the latest numbers show it’s busier so far this year than the first few months of 2015’s record-breaking year.
At Monday’s Horry County Transportation Committee meeting airport officials went over plans to handle the increase in traffic, among other items on the agenda.
One of the biggest issues the airport faces is having enough parking to accommodate the extra travelers.
Officials discussed ways to address the issue in the immediate future and down the road as the airport continues to grow.
“We are running out of parking because our passenger numbers are going through the roof,” said Kirk Lovell, Director of Air Service for Myrtle Beach International Airport.
Lovell briefed the Transportation Committee on up coming projects, “we’re having a lot more people originate their travel at Myrtle Beach International Airport and that is changing our parking lot and parking lot needs.”
Lovell says they are currently building an overflow lot off Jetport Road, that will provide 250 additional spaces for this summer, with 500 total new spaces completed by 2018.
“We”re also looking at the need to build a parking garage over the next 5 years to accommodate the continued growth we are forecasting,” said Lovell.
Specifics haven’t yet been nailed down, but the garage will be close to the terminal and carry a hefty price-tag; that the airport will have to cover.
“There won’t be any county money coming to pay for that parking garage, it’ll be totally in the airport budget,” said Transportation Committee Chairman, Gary Loftus.
The airport will rely on a variety of funds including landing fees, concessions, and parking fees to pay for the costs, and that could include higher parking rates.
“We are looking at the current rate structure and we will look at raising that if needed,” said Lovell.
The parking rate hike could come soon, “it could be a couple of weeks it could be a couple of months,” said Lovell.
While raising rates may not be popular with everyone, Jay Kalin, with Myrtle Beach Airport Shuttle applauds the idea.
“As far as we’re concerned, if they do raise the fees it will make more business for the shuttle,” said Kalin.
Diana Light lives in Myrtle Beach, and travels frequently, she said she was surprised they didn’t do it sooner.
“The fees are a third or a quarter they are at other airports,” said Light.
To Light, paying extra for parking is worth the cost for a garage, to accommodate travelers to and from the area.
“Most of the airports do have them the larger airports. And they’re expanding here, I think it’s a great idea,” said Light.
No word on how much the garage will cost, or how much parking fees could go up.
The first overflow lot is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day weekend.
