Here’s a look at what’s in store for the Myrtle Beach airport as growth continues
Myrtle Beach International Airport is among the fastest-growing airports in the country and leaders want that growth to continue into the new decade.
Airport Director Scott Van Moppes recently touched on what folks can expect from the airport in the near future and how current efforts will allow for expansion.
Currently, the Myrtle Beach airport, MYR, has the only Chick-fil-A in a South Carolina airport and soon it’ll have the only terminal Starbucks in the state. A new bar could feature local beer and a pizza place could be coming soon. And bigger infrastructure projects could allow for more flights.
Van Moppes, who has served as director for four years, said his staff is working hard to make the airport contributes to a healthy Grand Strand economy.
“We serve more non-stop locations than anyone else in the state,” he said. “We’re reaching close to capacity, so we’re trying to look four or five years ahead.”
New construction
As the airport becomes a busier destination, conventional wisdom would say more flights will be scheduled. Van Moppes said the airport is undergoing several projects to broaden its offerings.
Over 1,000 parking spaces were added over the last year and more plane fueling locations are being built.
“We’re really poised for the next five to 10 years to expand the reach of our general aviation partners and commercial routes,” he said. “It’s a reason we can reach as far west as we are.”
MYR will soon hire an architect to help design additional gates as a part of a terminal expansion. This will increase the amount of flights the airport can handle at a given time. Airliners currently partnered with MYR will be given priority when deciding what new flights will be added to accommodate the growth.
Other construction projects include updating the airport. The airport sits on the old Myrtle Beach Air Force base and some of the infrastructure dates back to those days.
Thanks to Federal Aviation Association grants, the airport is completely rebuilding its taxiways to help planes get to and from the runway. Van Moppes said it was going to take four years to complete this project, but thanks to the grant it could only take two years.
Repairs to the taxiways are a reason an air show is not coming back to Myrtle Beach. There just isn’t enough space to accommodate the show planes and the regularly scheduled commercial flights.
In addition to commercial flights, MYR has a general aviation program for plane enthusiasts and private jet owners. A new hanger is being built to accommodate more private planes, the first one to be built in a decade.
Van Moppes said the Myrtle Beach area has private jet owners and companies that will come to Myrtle Beach to store their airplanes safely.
“It’s going to allow us to bring some upper-end aircraft and new business,” he said.
For now, future plans do not include a new runway. While Van Moppes said an additional emergency runway would be nice, it’s too early to start planning for one.
Economic impact
Van Moppes said a partnership with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has marketed the Grand Strand in areas where the airport is expanding to. He said this brings in new tourists and new residents every year.
“It’s why the Grand Strand is booming,” he said.
But the airport does more than just bring in tourists. Contracts with the military are bringing contractors and defense jobs to the area. It’s why you often see fighter jets or military airplanes in the skies above Myrtle Beach.
MYR helps with air exercises, refueling stations and resting points for military pilots. The Myrtle Beach Air Force based closed in 1993 and many of the connections with the United States Air Force are strong.
Looking forward, the airport could expand into “air cargo” like many others across the nation. As shipping demands are requiring faster delivery times, airplanes are used more often for transport. This allows for companies like UPS and FEDEX to expand their presence in the Grand Strand.
Van Moppes said becoming a stop for shipping companies doesn’t happen overnight, but it could be a way MYR helps diversify Myrtle Beach’s economy.
“We’re bringing business to not only Myrtle Beach but also Conway and to other airports,” he said.
This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 2:37 PM.
