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Myrtle Beach International Airport

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For the United States Air Force use of the facility before March 1993, see Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
Myrtle Beach International Airport
File:Myrtle Beach International Airport logo.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerHorry County
OperatorHorry County Department of Airports
ServesMyrtle Beach, South Carolina
Location1100 Jetport Rd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Hub forDirect Air
Elevation AMSL25 ft / 8 m
Websitewww.FlyMyrtleBeach.com
Map
MYR is located in South Carolina
MYR
MYR
Location of airport in South Carolina
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 9,503 2,897 Asphalt/Concrete
Statistics (2011)
Aircraft operations106,356
Based aircraft42

Myrtle Beach International Airport (IATA: MYR, ICAO: KMYR, FAA LID: MYR) is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States.[1] It was formerly known as Myrtle Beach Jetport (1974-1989) and is located on site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, which also includes The Market Common Myrtle Beach shopping complex.

This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.[2] As per Federal Aviation Administration records, it had 705,430 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[3] 704,771 enplanements in 2009, and 782,737 in 2010.[4]

It currently serves as a hub for Direct Air and a focus city for Allegiant Air.[5]

The airport broke its 2007 record for most incoming passengers in 2010 when the 839,451st passenger entered the airport on December 30. Airport director Michael La Pier said the goal for 2011 is one million.[6]

History

Joint use of Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was first agreed in 1955.[7]

On 20 April 1977, an agreement between the City of Myrtle Beach and the U.S. Department of Defense was signed, which incorporated the area of Myrtle Beach Airport into the city. Until 1993, both MYR and Myrtle Beach AFB jointly used the main runway; this limited civil operations to 30 landings per day and led to a local business movement to build an entirely new airport.[8] In 1993, the Air Force closed the base as a result of BRAC 1991. The runway and other portions of the former military flight line were then turned over to the Horry County Department of Airports.[citation needed]

In the 1980s, the airport was served by Piedmont Airlines mainline aircraft (later acquired by USAir) and by Delta and Eastern commuter aircraft.[9] American Eagle became a major carrier at MYR in the early 1990s, operating multiple daily ATR 72 flights to the American Airlines hub at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. By late 1994 this route accounted for as much as 12% of the airport's passenger traffic; however, American abruptly ended its American Eagle hub at Raleigh-Durham in December 1994, cancelling all service to MYR and other secondary airports in the region.[10] American returned to Myrtle Beach in 2010 with a seasonal service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.[11]

On April 1, 1996, Myrtle Beach Airport became an international airport. A new international terminal held its grand opening August 21 of that year, and a new logo was unveiled "to reflect the architectural design of the airport 's terminal and the influence of the beach by showing a paned window and a palm tree in blues and greens."[12]

The airport served as the main hub for Hooters Air from 2003 until 2006. The airport authority offered discounted hangar space and other undisclosed benefits to Hooters Air operator Pace Airlines in an effort to relocate its operating base from Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[13] However, Pace decided to keep its base (also used for charter operations) in Winston-Salem.[14]

The airport was also a designated launch abort site for the Space Shuttle, but was never used.[15]

Facilities and aircraft

Myrtle Beach International Airport covers an area of 3,795 acres (1,536 ha) at an elevation of 25 feet (8 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 18/36 with an asphalt/concrete surface measuring 9,503 by 150 feet (2,897 x 46 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending February 28, 2011, the airport had 106,356 aircraft operations, an average of 291 per day: 63% air taxi, 16% scheduled commercial, 16% general aviation, and 5% military. At that time there were 42 aircraft based at this airport: 76% single-engine, 17% multi-engine, 2% jet, and 5% helicopter.[1]

Commercial aircraft

The following type of commercial aircraft are handled at MYR:

The airport is also capable of handling widebody aircraft.

Helipad operations

Huffman Helicopters offers Helicopter tours on a daily basis, they are located on the southeast corner of the airfield.

MRO services

The airport is home to AvCraft Technical Services, a maintenance, repair and overhaul vendor that specializes in regional aircraft heavy maintenance.

Terminal

The Dr. W.L. Harrelson Terminal Building is named for Myrtle Beach’s first mayor, Dr. W.L. Harrelson, who served from March 1938 to December 1939 and again from January 1942 to December 1943. The city purchased land for the municipal airport during his first term, and the terminal at the airport was named in his honor. Today, it’s known as Myrtle Beach International Airport, with its entrance on Harrelson Boulevard. Right past the Transportation Security Administration's checkpoint a dedication plaque is hung in honor for the first mayor.[citation needed]

The airport has seven gates with expansion under way to add six more by July 2012.[16] Also in the gate areas are a food court containing Pizza Hut, Subway, Java Coast coffee and the retail gift chain Hudson News. There is also a restaurant "J.J.'s sports grill and bar" serving an array of food and a full service bar. In 2007, 2 new jetways were added to gates 2 and 3, to replace the outdated jetways from 1979. In 2008 two renovations have taken place in the terminal building. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) added hard wood flooring in the security checkpoint to replace the carpet that had been in place for years. "J.J.'s sports grill and bar" received major renovations including flooring, new bar area and new furniture, the menu and appliances were also all replaced. Coming also this year the snack bar located on the lower level known as the "T-box" will also be completely renovated and a new menu will be added. In March 2012 Gates four and five are receiving new, state of the art jetways. These jetways are the first unveiling of the "B" concourse being that they are now Gates B4 and B5, respectively.

In July 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration approved a $4.50 passenger facilities charge on all airline tickets to and from MYR in order to defray part of the cost for the terminal upgrade.[17]

Passenger and guest services

There are three information booths located throughout the terminal building, There are Pay-Phones that are TTY compatible on all levels. Also free wi-fi is provided in all areas of the terminal. ATM's are located on each level.

In addition the following stores are located in the terminal:

  • Subway
  • Java Coast Coffee's
  • Pizza Hut
  • Hudson News
  • The T-Box
  • J.J.'s Sports Bar and Grill
  • Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center

There is an aircraft viewing area on the opposite side of the airfield in War Bird Park, a small outdoor museum that includes actual examples of the F-100 Super Sabre, A-7 Corsair II and A-10 Thunderbolt II and a number of plaques detailing the history of the former air base and the units and airmen based there.

Public safety

The airport has an on site Fire Department and EMTs on staff 24 hours, The airport also has a 24 hour, on-site police precinct within the airport. There are AEDs located throughout the terminal building. The airport also has a brand new, state of the art security system utilizing all digital cameras that is staffed 24 hours on site.

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Fort Myers, Fort Wayne, Huntington (WV), Knoxville, Youngstown (OH)
Seasonal: Allentown[18]
Delta Air Lines Seasonal: Atlanta
Delta Connection operated by Comair New York-LaGuardia [Begins July 10, 2012]
Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines Seasonal: Detroit
Delta Connection operated by ExpressJet Atlanta
Direct Air operated by Sky King, Inc. and Xtra Airways Columbus-Rickenbacker, Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Lakeland[19], Newark, Niagara Falls, Pittsburgh, Plattsburgh, Springfield (IL), Worcester
All service suspended until May 15th.
Porter Airlines Seasonal: Toronto-Billy Bishop
Spirit Airlines Atlantic City, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, New York-LaGuardia, Washington-National
Seasonal: Atlanta, Charleston, (WV), Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth [begins May 3, 2012][20], Latrobe (PA), Niagara Falls, Plattsburgh
United Express operated by Colgan Air Newark
United Express operated by Shuttle America Seasonal: Chicago-O'Hare
US Airways Charlotte
US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin Washington-National
US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines Charlotte
US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines Charlotte, Philadelphia

Statistics

Carrier shares for August 2010 - July 2011[5]
Carrier Passengers (arriving and departing)
Spirit Airlines
737,000(48.27%)
US Airways
154,000(10.08%)
Atlantic Southeast
128,000(8.38%)
Delta
122,000(7.97%)
Republic
92,510(6.06%)
Other
294,000(19.24%)
Top 10 domestic destinations (August 2010 – July 2011)[5]
Rank City Airport Passengers
1 Charlotte, NC CLT 173,000
2 New York, NY LGA 131,000
3 Atlanta, GA ATL 131,000
4 Atlantic City, NJ ACY 64,000
5 Detroit, MI DTW 55,000
6 Boston, MA BOS 39,000
7 Fort Lauderdale, FL FLL 34,000
8 Chicago, IL ORD 30,000
9 Newark, NJ EWR 21,000
10 Arlington, VA / Washington, D.C. DCA 17,000

Air cargo

The airport has a dedicated air cargo building at the entrance of the airport.

Incidents

  • On March 19, 2010 a unidentified man gained access to a restricted part of the airfield, when approached by a maintenance supervisor the man pulled out a knife. The maintenance supervisor contacted the airport police and upon their arrival the man started stabbing himself in the chest and upper abdomen, he was later pronounced dead at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. Air service was not interrupted nor was there any threat to passengers. This incident is still under investigation (March 2010) by the Horry County Police, the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.[citation needed]
  • On March 12, 2012 Direct Air abruptly cancelled all flights later announcing that they would not resume flight schedules until May 15, 2012; in the process leaving dozens of passengers stranded in the terminal building. Approximately one week later it was announced that Direct Air had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection stating that rising fuel costs have led to the decision. It is unclear whether Direct Air will return to MYR in the previous capacity that it was operating.

References

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for MYR PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 25 August 2011.
  2. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A (PDF, 2.03 MB)" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. 4 October 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  3. ^ "Enplanements for CY 2008 (PDF, 1.0 MB)" (PDF). CY 2008 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. 18 December 2009. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  4. ^ "Enplanements for CY 2010 (PDF, 5.4 MB)" (PDF). CY 2010 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. 4 October 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  5. ^ a b c "Myrtle Beach, SC: Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. July 2011.
  6. ^ Spring, Jake (31 December 2010). "Flier breaks Myrtle Beach International Airport record". The Sun News. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Ruling Due In About 2 Months On Myrtle Beach Air Base Use". The News and Courier. Charleston, S.C. January 26, 1956.
  8. ^ "Task force calls for 'international airport' in Myrtle Beach". Wilmington Morning Star. September 18, 1987.
  9. ^ "Two Carriers Want To Land Large Jets In Myrtle Beach". The News and Courier. Charleston, S.C. February 2, 1989.
  10. ^ "Airport officials aren't sweating airline's decision to end service". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. December 12, 1994.
  11. ^ "American Eagle Airlines Launches Nonstop Jet Service Between Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport". PR Newswire. April 6, 2010.
  12. ^ Katie Merx (August 22, 1996). "Airport Has Global Outlook: International Terminal Open for Business". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
  13. ^ "Myrtle Beach woos N.C. airline". Wilmington Morning Star. February 27, 2003.
  14. ^ "Hooters Air flying to Myrtle Beach". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. December 29, 2002.
  15. ^ "Space Shuttle Emergency Landing Sites". GlobalSecurity.org.
  16. ^ Bryant, Dawn; Saldinger, Adva; Spring, Jake (January 2, 2011). "Top business stories to watch in 2011 in Myrtle Beach area". The Sun News. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  17. ^ "Myrtle Beach airport ticket fee to increase: Cash will help fund expansion". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C. January 12, 2011.
  18. ^ http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/Allegiant-resumes-service-to-Myrtle-Beach/-/132502/9266822/-/ibk3l9z/-/index.html
  19. ^ Chambliss, John. Direct Air Expects Lakeland Linder to Become a Hub of Tourism, theledger.com, March 30, 2011
  20. ^ http://ir.spirit.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=644971
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