Charleston International Airport will soon see several improvements, including a major concourse expansion, a new parking garage and a new connector to alleviate traffic congestion along International Boulevard.
The new concourse, dubbed the West Gate expansion, is part of a 20-year master plan for the airport to handle higher traffic volume over the next decade. It was first planned as a temporary modular structure with five gates. The plan, however, shifted, as officials determined they could build their own facility faster than they could bring in a modular one, “and it will be a hell of a lot nicer,” said airport Executive Director and CEO Elliott Summey.
“The Charleston airport is a microcosm of what the entire Lowcountry is going through right now,” he said. “In our growth, we have to make sure we don’t lose what makes us special. We have the cleanest, safest, most convenient airport in the country. To keep that, we need more infrastructure.
“Every year, our numbers have gone up, and up, and up, but now, we’re kind of flat,” he added. “We’ve put as many people in the boat as we can. To add more passengers, we need to add more facilities.”
The $75 million West Gate expansion has space for full-service high-end concessions, 12-foot ceilings, airfield views and five new gates. It can also accommodate larger aircraft, enabling more international travel options. The project has already been financed through a bond sale.
The expansion is expected to bolster the airport’s capacity by 20-25%, Summey said.
New garage boosts access
While the new concourse will bolster the airport’s capacity, Summey said, no one would be able to use it without more parking availability.
A new six-level, 7,500-space parking facility, the largest in the state, is already under construction. Three cranes dotted the airport’s skyline in recent days.
The first phase is set to open in November 2026, adding 2,500 parking spots while the rest of the facility continues construction until its estimated completion in fall 2027.
The most significant upgrade, however, could be the inclusion of a rental car pavilion. The existing rental car facility will move to a new one-stop shop where travelers can rent, park and return rental vehicles right outside the terminal.
“This new parking garage is a significant investment in the future of Charleston International Airport and our commitment to providing exceptional service to our travelers,” Summey said. “As air travel continues to grow in our region, this facility will not only meet current demand but also prepare us for the future, ensuring that our airport remains a vital hub for both business and leisure travelers.”
The new parking facility totals 2.4 million square feet and cost the airport $348 million.
Connector to alleviate traffic
Charleston County’s project to build an airport connector in April advanced into the right-of-way acquisition phase after receiving approval from the Federal Highway Administration, a key decision that pushed the project toward its final design phases.
“This determination is a major milestone for the Airport Connector Road project and reflects years of careful planning, environmental study, and collaboration,” said Charleston County Public Works Director Eric Adams. “With this approval in hand, we’re one step closer to delivering critical infrastructure that will improve traffic flow, support economic growth and provide a safer, more efficient connection to and from the airport.”
The connector project involves construction of a new access roadway to the airport. This new five-lane road will help to alleviate traffic congestion caused by commuter traffic, airport-destined traffic, Boeing traffic and general traffic associated with the North Charleston Coliseum and surrounding area. Additionally, the project will provide increased traffic capacity to account for future economic growth in the area.
“People want to blame traffic problems on growth, but International Boulevard has been a problem for a very long time,” Summey said. “There’s so much cut-through traffic. Most airports around the country have their own road going to it. Now, we will as well.”
Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and is expected to take approximately two years.
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