Myrtle Beach International Airport

Myrtle Beach International Airport
Sk5893 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Myrtle Beach International Airport
Iata	MYR
Icao	KMYR
Faa	MYR
Type	Public
Owner	Horry County, South Carolina
City-served	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Elevation-f	26
Website	Myrtle Beach International Airport

Myrtle Beach International Airport is a public airport serving Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the Grand Strand coastal region. Located in Horry County, South Carolina, the airport functions as a regional gateway for South Carolina tourism, connecting to major hubs such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport. As a component of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, the airport supports commercial, general aviation, and occasional military operations.

History

The airport traces roots to municipal efforts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the mid-20th century and expanded amid postwar aviation growth typified by projects like Tampa International Airport and Raleigh–Durham International Airport. Development milestones include runway extensions influenced by standards from the Federal Aviation Administration and regional planning with Horry County, South Carolina authorities. Airline service history features carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air, and legacy regional partners including Comair and Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989). The facility hosted military operations related to Air National Guard exercises and saw economic impacts comparable to regional transportation projects such as expansions at Charleston International Airport. Significant events included terminal renovations paralleling projects at Orlando International Airport and security upgrades after policies set by the Transportation Security Administration.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The airport features a primary runway and secondary pavement designed per standards from the Federal Aviation Administration. Terminal facilities include ticketing, gates, baggage systems, and concessions operated by vendors similar to those at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport. Support infrastructure comprises air traffic control services coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration's facilities, fire rescue meeting Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting guidelines, and fuel services used by operators such as Delta Air Lines and American Eagle (airline brand). Groundside improvements reflect collaboration with Horry County, South Carolina planners, transportation arteries like U.S. Route 17, and nearby intermodal links analogous to projects at Jacksonville International Airport. Navigation aids include instrument landing systems consistent with International Civil Aviation Organization recommendations and radars integrated with Federal Aviation Administration National Airspace System components.

Airlines and Destinations

Scheduled service connects to hubs and leisure destinations served by carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, and Allegiant Air. Seasonal routes link to markets such as New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Orlando, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Florida, and Philadelphia. Charter and seasonal international operations have linked the airport with points in Canada and the United Kingdom via operators akin to those serving Orlando Sanford International Airport and Punta Cana International Airport. Frequent partnerships with regional carriers mirror relationships seen at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Ground Transportation and Access

Access to the airport is provided via U.S. Route 17, local arterials in Horry County, South Carolina, and regional connections to Interstate 95 and Interstate 26 corridors. Ground transportation options include rental car operations represented by national brands such as Hertz, Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, shuttle services, taxis, and app-based ride services like Uber and Lyft. Public transit links are coordinated with agencies similar to Pee Dee Regional Transportation and county transit initiatives modeled after services at Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority. Parking facilities accommodate short-term and long-term parking, with traffic management practices informed by studies from transportation authorities including South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Operations and Statistics

Operational statistics reflect passenger enplanement trends consistent with seasonal tourism cycles on the Grand Strand and comparative throughput with airports like Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Annual passenger counts have been influenced by carrier network changes involving Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines and by broader shifts in air travel following events associated with Hurricane Hugo-era resilience planning and public health responses similar to those coordinated by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cargo operations include general freight carriers and charter freight movements comparable to services at Charleston International Airport. Performance metrics track on-time arrivals and departures relative to Bureau of Transportation Statistics benchmarks.

Accidents and Incidents

Historical incidents at the airport and in regional airspace involved occurrences investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and responses coordinated with Federal Aviation Administration inspectors and local emergency services in Horry County, South Carolina. Notable types of events paralleled investigatory patterns seen in cases cataloged by the National Transportation Safety Board at NTSB Aviation Accident Reports, including runway excursions, bird strikes typical of coastal airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport, and mechanical failures investigated under Title 49 of the United States Code aviation statutes. Emergency response exercises have included coordination with Coast Guard Air Station Savannah-style units and regional hospitals such as Grand Strand Medical Center for contingency planning.

Category:Airports in South Carolina Category:Horry County, South Carolina