Savannah airport terminal expansion nears next milestone

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport’s terminal concourse expansion is expected to reach its next step toward completion in mid-September.

Airport representatives said they will be able to start bringing in jet bridges later this month. Crews will also start building out restaurant and retail spaces.

The $26 million project is funded through grants and started with demolition to add roughly 43,000 square feet. When complete, the airport will have 19 gates along with more seating, restrooms and restaurants.

Senior Director of Marketing and Air Service Development Lori Lynah said the airport will have about $30 million in total grants by the end of this year. The grants will be used to pay for this project and others throughout the airport.

“There might have been a few glitches along the way, but nothing major and nothing that wasn’t expected. So many of these kinds of construction jobs have really long lead times for ordering things. So, those things have stayed right on schedule, and that helps keep everything moving in the right direction.”

Lynah said it won’t be until the start of next year that flight options will be visible at the gates, with people waiting in lines nearby. The project is expected to bring more daily flights and additional airline services once finished.

“In the summer, in the busy months, we’re full here. We have airplanes parked everywhere because we have so many morning departure flights. All of this stuff has been planned. It’s in our 20-year master plan, and it’s going to help us get through the next 20-year planning phase.”

As WTOC reported, airport leadership has said the airport is no longer viewed as a “small airport,” citing rapid growth in the region that requires changes in several areas.

Plans include growing the parking lot to 9,000 spots and creating a new interchange system near the airport in coordination with the city of Pooler.