Air Canada announced today it will add Charleston International Airport (CHS) as a nonstop destination, marking it the first airline to offer a daily international flight in South Carolina.
Flights will service between CHS and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport beginning March 28, 2024. Airport officials noted how both cities are among the top cosmopolitan destinations worldwide.
“Air Canada’s announcement is a major milestone for our industry, the Charleston region and beyond,” said Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston and chair of the Aviation Authority Board. “International visitation is integral to a healthy and sustainable tourism economy. While Canada is consistently our top country of origin for international visitors, we know there is tremendous untapped potential in the market.
“Beyond increasing access for leisure travelers,” she added, “the daily, nonstop service creates more opportunity to recruit group business and provides improved connectivity for Charleston area residents traveling to Canada and other international destinations served through Air Canada’s Toronto hub.”
The announcement comes at the end of a year of marked growth for the Charleston airport. It currently hosts 13 airlines and has seen record high passengers in 2023.
According to CHS statistics, the airport served more than 2.6 million passengers in 2022. In 2023, the airport served more than 2.5 million passengers as of October, which indicates the current year will break records. The number of passengers is expected to continue to rise in the next few years.
Several expansion projects also remain on the horizon, with long-term plans calling for 11 new gates, two new wings and a new parking deck, according to a February 2023, article in the Charleston Regional Business Journal.
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