Welcome to the Rest of the Carolinas Aviation thread - 2023 edition. Note that Charlotte Aviation now has its own thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1480135

Please continue to post your news and discussions below.

Link to the 2022 edition:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1468711

Happy New Year fellow North/South Carolinian airport folks.

FAY airport updates are almost complete. I don't really find it to my liking. OAJ and ILM have a big airport look to them where as FAY comes off as small. The 8ft ceilings dont help the "hey, I'm small" look. The ficcad of FAY terminal was drastically changed because of reduced funding from the federal government. What say you guyz?

https://www.cbs17.com/news/fayetteville ... -upgrades/

FAY airport updates are almost complete. I don't really find it to my liking. OAJ and ILM have a big airport look to them where as FAY comes off as small. The 8ft ceilings dont help the "hey, I'm small" look. The ficcad of FAY terminal was drastically changed because of reduced funding from the federal government. What say you guyz?

Please delete the thread above this one please. Good day.

G4 currently only has nonstop service to CHS from CVG, LCK, IND, SDF, and PIT.

CMH/SDF/PIT all already have MX service, including less-than-daily MX nonstop flights to CHS from CMH/SDF/PIT. MX will also be starting less-than-daily nonstop service to CHS from CVG on 2/8/2023.

IND is currently the only city with G4 nonstop service to CHS that doesn't have MX service.

G4 does have opportunities to add nonstop service to CHS from Midwest cities that don't have MX service such as ATW, DSM, FNT, and GRR. There are also some Northeastern U.S. cities not currently served by MX that already have G4 service such as ALB, ABE, BGR, ELM, MDT, IAG, PBG, PSM, and ROC.

Here are the Q3 2022 PDEW's of the top contiguous U.S. markets traveled to from CHS that don't currently have any nonstop service to CHS:
CHS-SAN - 56
CHS-SAT - 46
CHS-BUF - 31
CHS-PWM - 30
CHS-ALB - 29
CHS-MKE - 29
CHS-PDX - 28
CHS-MEM - 28
CHS-ROC - 26
CHS-SMF - 24
CHS-GRR - 24

There are a few G4 destinations in the Northeast such as ALB, IAG, PSM, and ROC that probably could support less-than-daily G4 nonstop service to CHS with the ALB, BUF/IAG, PWM, and ROC markets being 4 of the top markets traveled to from CHS that don't currently have any nonstop service to CHS. The ALB, BUF/IAG, PWM, PSM, and ROC markets also don't currently have any service on XP or MX.

Will G4 take advantage of the opportunities that are there to add nonstop service to CHS from Midwest/Northeast markets that don't currently have MX or XP service?

But would CHS rather continue day of week service by adding additional nonstops.. or would it be better to start pushing as many cities for Max to daily. CHA has a gray number of destinations for a city of its size. But I think getting daily service is equally a high priority.

AVL announces another record year for passenger traffic in 2022, with 1.83 million enplanements and deplanements, a 29% increase over 2021.

https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-r ... nal-income

ILM also posted a record year of almost 1.1 million Enplanement and Deplanements. I can't wait to see what this fiscal year brings after SUN COUNTRY starts operations in June.

Other airport news on the Crystal Coast

Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) has started the expansion of the main terminal and gate area... This was the message on their Facebook page as well as an illustration which I've previously posted here.

Here was the message:
Our terminal expansion is underway! It includes new gates & dedicated airplane boarding bridges. It will also have a new terminal entrance canopy, new modern restrooms, an area for service animals and so much more. All scheduled for completion by late summer 2024.

AVL breaks ground on new $55 million air traffic control tower: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/new ... 841740007/

GSP and CHS in a joint venture are asking the state for nearly $700 million for various expansion projects: https://www.postandcourier.com/business ... 7be89.html

GSP to have 18.3% more seats in March 2023 than in March 2022. Every airline at the airport is adding more flights, bigger planes, or new service between March and May: https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... tid=Zxz2cZ

Construction has started on a $18 million terminal roadway improvement project at GSP to prepare for growth and expansion: https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... 13fe7.html

AVLAirlineFreq wrote:

AVL announces another record year for passenger traffic in 2022, with 1.83 million enplanements and deplanements, a 29% increase over 2021.

https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-r ... nal-income

I have a question for you and anyone else that live in medium sized airports. A few years ago, ILM asked WAVE Transit (City bus service) to start serving the airport every hour for those people living in the city limits and dont drive. This service with mass transit has been a success. Does your airport get mass transit to give it's citizens another option to get to/from your local airports?

Enjoy your day Carolinians,
Des

eraugrad02 wrote:

I have a question for you and anyone else that live in medium sized airports. A few years ago, ILM asked WAVE Transit (City bus service) to start serving the airport every hour for those people living in the city limits and dont drive. This service with mass transit has been a success. Does your airport get mass transit to give it's citizens another option to get to/from your local airports?

Enjoy your day Carolinians,
Des

There is a regular Asheville public transit bus line running to AVL from downtown, but it only runs every 90 minutes and is probably intended more for employees at the airport rather than passengers.

Southwest has really downsized GSP since it opened in 2011 . Great area but no motivation for Southwest to bring back BNA, MDW, and maybe add a DEN even if it's only weekend service.

sonnyr23 wrote:

Southwest has really downsized GSP since it opened in 2011 . Great area but no motivation for Southwest to bring back BNA, MDW, and maybe add a DEN even if it's only weekend service.

GSP has always been a major DL market. Does SW do GSP-ATL against DL?

During the time that i worked for Southwest we opened up GSP & CHS in March of 2011. GSP had 7 flights MCO, HOU, BNA, MDW 2, BWI 2.
MCO was the first destination that was discontinued then BNA, MDW, BWI, and HOU.
GSP then became only 3 ATL flights. In 2020 when i returned to GSP Southwest brought back BWI and then later HOU.
HOU now i believe may now be only weekends. The ATL flights for Southwest are solely transfer flights for its customers but many of us think that BNA would have been a better choice.
So many of us just could not put a finger on it in regards as to why GSP has for the most part remained pretty stagnant and there was always that fear that GSP would close.
Southwest does make a boat load of $$$$ on Freight in GSP. During the pandemic , Southwest was the only airline accepting inbound and outbound Human Remains.
Many thought that CLT would be more focused on by Southwest and for a time it looked like they were going in that direction but CLT has remained stagnant as well.
It's been said that Southwest had 2 of 3 choices GSP, CHS, and Columbia, SC CHS turned out to be the best of the 3 choices and now with MYR added during the pandemic is doing very well.

I wonder why ILM can't pull in SW? MYR is an hour south so maybe for than reason we won't ever see them here but Avelo flies to both cities. Maybe they'll be here within the next decade.

Des in ILM,

I would like to see Avelo go into EWN.. service to MCO 2x weekly would be great, I think..

ERJ170 wrote:

I would like to see Avelo go into EWN.. service to MCO 2x weekly would be great, I think..

I think EWN has a better chance of getting DL back to ATL before you see Avello or Allegiant. They should be able to fill 2 CRJ-200 a day. OAJ sees 1 CRJ-900 and 1 B717 a day. Their loads must be very good to get that size equipment. After EWN's runway gets extended to almost 7000ft the CR2 will be less weight restricted than it was at the current runway length. Speaking of runway length, this would restrict the LCC's flying 737/A320 into the airport as well.

Des in ILM,

eraugrad02 wrote:

ERJ170 wrote:

I would like to see Avelo go into EWN.. service to MCO 2x weekly would be great, I think..

I think EWN has a better chance of getting DL back to ATL before you see Avello or Allegiant. They should be able to fill 2 CRJ-200 a day. OAJ sees 1 CRJ-900 and 1 B717 a day. Their loads must be very good to get that size equipment. After EWN's runway gets extended to almost 7000ft the CR2 will be less weight restricted than it was at the current runway length. Speaking of runway length, this would restrict the LCC's flying 737/A320 into the airport as well.

Des in ILM,

I'm from New Bern and as much as I love the idea of service to Orlando, We're just not that big. Avelo with flights from RDU and ILM to MCO reduces our catchment size too much IMO. Probably only to counties that are directly adjacent to our own and maybe north and eastern Onslow. If we can get ATL back and DCA up to a seasonal daily that would elevate EWN substantially. I still can't get over the DCA service. Hoping it sticks. EWN would easily be the smallest East coast Avelo station as well.

eraugrad02 wrote:

ERJ170 wrote:

I would like to see Avelo go into EWN.. service to MCO 2x weekly would be great, I think..

I think EWN has a better chance of getting DL back to ATL before you see Avello or Allegiant. They should be able to fill 2 CRJ-200 a day. OAJ sees 1 CRJ-900 and 1 B717 a day. Their loads must be very good to get that size equipment. After EWN's runway gets extended to almost 7000ft the CR2 will be less weight restricted than it was at the current runway length. Speaking of runway length, this would restrict the LCC's flying 737/A320 into the airport as well.

Des in ILM,

Isn't the CR2 going to be gone from Atlanta by June of this year?

I'm just not sure the population base is there for Avelo to enter the EWN market. That's a lot of capacity, even at 2x/week.

AVLAirlineFreq wrote:

eraugrad02 wrote:

ERJ170 wrote:

I would like to see Avelo go into EWN.. service to MCO 2x weekly would be great, I think..

I think EWN has a better chance of getting DL back to ATL before you see Avello or Allegiant. They should be able to fill 2 CRJ-200 a day. OAJ sees 1 CRJ-900 and 1 B717 a day. Their loads must be very good to get that size equipment. After EWN's runway gets extended to almost 7000ft the CR2 will be less weight restricted than it was at the current runway length. Speaking of runway length, this would restrict the LCC's flying 737/A320 into the airport as well.

Des in ILM,

Isn't the CR2 going to be gone from Atlanta by June of this year?

I'm just not sure the population base is there for Avelo to enter the EWN market. That's a lot of capacity, even at 2x/week.

WOW bro, That's news to me. So Delta is going to all 70-76 seaters only? See, this is why someone needs to produce a 30 seat turbo-prop again. Not ever market needs a jet but at the same time it doesnt mean these cities should be without air service. My 1st two years of flight school was in ISO back in the 90's. US Airways Express (CC Air) flew J-32's there 4x's a day. It was the perfect plane for that market. When they were retired, ISO lost all service to CLT.

eraugrad02 wrote:

WOW bro, That's news to me. So Delta is going to all 70-76 seaters only? See, this is why someone needs to produce a 30 seat turbo-prop again. Not ever market needs a jet but at the same time it doesnt mean these cities should be without air service. My 1st two years of flight school was in ISO back in the 90's. US Airways Express (CC Air) flew J-32's there 4x's a day. It was the perfect plane for that market. When they were retired, ISO lost all service to CLT.

Yep. As of May, in fact. I think all of the smaller DL markets out of ATL (places like GTR, VLD, ABY, and BQK) will all be at 2x/daily on CR9s.

Southwest at GSP will be adding a third Sunday Atlanta flight and Sunday service to Houston-Hobby starting April 16th. These both are additional service.

AVLAirlineFreq wrote:

eraugrad02 wrote:

WOW bro, That's news to me. So Delta is going to all 70-76 seaters only? See, this is why someone needs to produce a 30 seat turbo-prop again. Not ever market needs a jet but at the same time it doesnt mean these cities should be without air service. My 1st two years of flight school was in ISO back in the 90's. US Airways Express (CC Air) flew J-32's there 4x's a day. It was the perfect plane for that market. When they were retired, ISO lost all service to CLT.

Yep. As of May, in fact. I think all of the smaller DL markets out of ATL (places like GTR, VLD, ABY, and BQK) will all be at 2x/daily on CR9s.

That's interesting... This would also make sense why DL is bringing back more B717's back into service so that markets like ILM will go all 717's and they move the CR9's to markets that will be loosing CR2's.

Another odd thing happened in ILM. Our AA service to DFW used to come in at 2330 and RON returning at 0730. A few months ago the A320 would arrive a little after 1600 and depart back at 1705. Every other city of similar size in the Carolina's still has their's depart in the morning. I'm trying to figure why AA did this change. Maybe its a west coast connections thing or what?.

Lilj4425 wrote:

Southwest at GSP will be adding a third Sunday Atlanta flight and Sunday service to Houston-Hobby starting April 16th. These both are additional service.

Better than nothing, but WN really needs to rethink their entire idea of what they are doing with GSP. Connectivity is so hit and miss.

I have another question for you guys that are here in medium sized airports like ILM, OAJ, AVL, MYR, etc. I'm a paraplegic and when i park in long-term or even short-term parking with the growth of our airports, the parking lots have become MASSIVE. It takes me 10 to 15 minutes to get up to the terminal. I can only imagine what elderly people, pregnant women, or small kids do while also taking their luggage with them. We at ILM are begging for parking shuttles to transport passengers and their luggage up to the terminal. It's a HUGE disservice to me and others. They should cycle around the airport every 10min. Our hospital has parking shuttles so why shouldn't most of our airports? I can not wait to read your opining on this at your airport.

This is a pic of the airport before the new concourse was constructed but look how huge and the distance some have to walk from the outer ring of the parking lot. I have to call the airport to have a skycap come down to my car to walk my bags with me to the terminal.

Desmond in ILM,

Here is what they’re looking to do at GSP from those large parking lots. Currently they use bus shuttles:

https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/gs ... ystem/amp/ and https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... cff03.html

Very similar to what they have at terminal 5 of Heathrow: https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and- ... terminal-5

eraugrad02 wrote:

I have another question for you guys that are here in medium sized airports like ILM, OAJ, AVL, MYR, etc. I'm a paraplegic and when i park in long-term or even short-term parking with the growth of our airports, the parking lots have become MASSIVE. It takes me 10 to 15 minutes to get up to the terminal. I can only imagine what elderly people, pregnant women, or small kids do while also taking their luggage with them. We at ILM are begging for parking shuttles to transport passengers and their luggage up to the terminal. It's a HUGE disservice to me and others. They should cycle around the airport every 10min. Our hospital has parking shuttles so why shouldn't most of our airports? I can not wait to read your opining on this at your airport.

This is a pic of the airport before the new concourse was constructed but look how huge and the distance some have to walk from the outer ring of the parking lot. I have to call the airport to have a skycap come down to my car to walk my bags with me to the terminal.
Desmond in ILM,

AVL just purchased shuttle buses for their remote lots. The parking lot vendor LAZ has been operating shuttles on behalf of the airport.

Lilj4425 wrote:

Here is what they’re looking to do at GSP from those large parking lots. Currently they use bus shuttles:

https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/gs ... ystem/amp/ and https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... cff03.html

Very similar to what they have at terminal 5 of Heathrow: https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and- ... terminal-5

This is so cool but its not wheelchair accessible. There is no way for the shuttle to extend a ramp so I can safely and independently board/exit the vehicle. Who loads my bags onto the shuttle too? There would have to be a GSP CSR to ride along in every shuttle. Cool idea but in the end it maybe a fail.

Desmond in ILM,

AVLAirlineFreq wrote:

eraugrad02 wrote:

I have another question for you guys that are here in medium sized airports like ILM, OAJ, AVL, MYR, etc. I'm a paraplegic and when i park in long-term or even short-term parking with the growth of our airports, the parking lots have become MASSIVE. It takes me 10 to 15 minutes to get up to the terminal. I can only imagine what elderly people, pregnant women, or small kids do while also taking their luggage with them. We at ILM are begging for parking shuttles to transport passengers and their luggage up to the terminal. It's a HUGE disservice to me and others. They should cycle around the airport every 10min. Our hospital has parking shuttles so why shouldn't most of our airports? I can not wait to read your opining on this at your airport.

This is a pic of the airport before the new concourse was constructed but look how huge and the distance some have to walk from the outer ring of the parking lot. I have to call the airport to have a skycap come down to my car to walk my bags with me to the terminal.
Desmond in ILM,

AVL just purchased shuttle buses for their remote lots. The parking lot vendor LAZ has been operating shuttles on behalf of the airport.

Would you take a picture of the bus for me in the future? Our WAVE city buses run on natural gas. If the shuttles can't be full EV or hybrid, have them run on natural gas. The hotels have their vans, the rental car companies can have vans and move the rental cars a mile away from the terminal to where they wash the cars for the next renters and it frees up more spaces for passengers.

Thanks bro,
Desmond in ILM

eraugrad02 wrote:

Lilj4425 wrote:

Here is what they’re looking to do at GSP from those large parking lots. Currently they use bus shuttles:

https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/gs ... ystem/amp/ and https://www.postandcourier.com/greenvil ... cff03.html

Very similar to what they have at terminal 5 of Heathrow: https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and- ... terminal-5

This is so cool but its not wheelchair accessible. There is no way for the shuttle to extend a ramp so I can safely and independently board/exit the vehicle. Who loads my bags onto the shuttle too? There would have to be a GSP CSR to ride along in every shuttle. Cool idea but in the end it maybe a fail.

Desmond in ILM,

Ahhh…you’re right. Airports needs to have handicap parking spots up front near the terminal. Maybe something like a valet handicap service that doesn’t cost more than the economy lot would work also.

G4 adding AVL-PHX. To be announced tomorrow.

AVLAirlineFreq wrote:

G4 adding AVL-PHX. To be announced tomorrow.

That's great, maybe AA will follow suit.

Word on the street is that a new airline is about to announce new service to GSP with service starting in June. Anybody know who?

Lilj4425 wrote:

Word on the street is that a new airline is about to announce new service to GSP with service starting in June. Anybody know who?

My guess would be Avelo or Breeze.

eraugrad02 wrote:

Lilj4425 wrote:

Word on the street is that a new airline is about to announce new service to GSP with service starting in June. Anybody know who?

My guess would be Avelo or Breeze.

Quietly, I'm hoping for JetBlue to Boston. Would make a lot of sense. I can't see Avelo; GSP's not a big enough tourist draw for GSP-HVN, and Allegiant has Florida covered.

Hope it is Jet Blue .

There's a Breeze E190 scheduled to land at GSP at 21:30 tonight. Charter or ???

https://fr24.com/MXY6404/2f4e75bc

727stretch wrote:

There's a Breeze E190 scheduled to land at GSP at 21:30 tonight. Charter or ???

https://fr24.com/MXY6404/2f4e75bc

Very interesting. I don’t know of any colleges or universities in the area playing a team from Virginia this weekend. I’m still guessing it’s a charter though.

After doing some research, that Breeze plane is definitely a charter.

sonnyr23 wrote:

Hope it is Jet Blue .

I think if it were going to have been Avelo, they would have announced it today. I'm honestly not sure what Breeze would try to do beyond GSP-LAS. MSY? TPA? LAX? In my head at least, JetBlue makes the most sense of what's being kicked around. I suppose Frontier coming back or Spirit giving GSP another go's a possibility.

I'm less than 4 months ILM has already outgrown the newly expanded terminal and gates. The airport authority has approved another terminal expansion, parking deck, and upgraded taxiways. Before the end of the year, the gate concourse will get a Dunkin Donuts and a Jimmy John's. I'm excited about this news. Also, at the airport meeting, ILM is lobbying to get service to BNA, TPA, DEN & beyond 5yrs LAX. Per these destinations it sounds like the airport is talking hard with Southwest Airlines. With MYR 1 hour away, does Southwest serves cities 1 to 1.5hr away from each other?

Des in ILM,

https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/ne ... 962341007/

eraugrad02 wrote:

I'm less than 4 months ILM has already outgrown the newly expanded terminal and gates. The airport authority has approved another terminal expansion, parking deck, and upgraded taxiways. Before the end of the year, the gate concourse will get a Dunkin Donuts and a Jimmy John's. I'm excited about this news. Also, at the airport meeting, ILM is lobbying to get service to BNA, TPA, DEN & beyond 5yrs LAX. Per these destinations it sounds like the airport is talking hard with Southwest Airlines. With MYR 1 hour away, does Southwest serves cities 1 to 1.5hr away from each other?

Des in ILM,

https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/ne ... 962341007/

The LA, New York City area, DC area, and Miami area all have multiple cities with SWA service

Delta28L wrote:

eraugrad02 wrote:

I'm less than 4 months ILM has already outgrown the newly expanded terminal and gates. The airport authority has approved another terminal expansion, parking deck, and upgraded taxiways. Before the end of the year, the gate concourse will get a Dunkin Donuts and a Jimmy John's. I'm excited about this news. Also, at the airport meeting, ILM is lobbying to get service to BNA, TPA, DEN & beyond 5yrs LAX. Per these destinations it sounds like the airport is talking hard with Southwest Airlines. With MYR 1 hour away, does Southwest serves cities 1 to 1.5hr away from each other?

Des in ILM,

https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/ne ... 962341007/

The LA, New York City area, DC area, and Miami area all have multiple cities with SWA service

Those areas are quite a bit different than Wilmington and Myrtle Beach though your response is correct to his question.

AVLAirlineFreq wrote:

G4 adding AVL-PHX. To be announced tomorrow.

AVL-PHX seems like a really odd route, a little skeptical that this one works out but we'll see. I would think LAX-AVL would have a better shot at working.

N292UX wrote:

AVLAirlineFreq wrote:

G4 adding AVL-PHX. To be announced tomorrow.

AVL-PHX seems like a really odd route, a little skeptical that this one works out but we'll see. I would think LAX-AVL would have a better shot at working.

I would have thought LAX before PHX, too, but maybe the populace in Phoenix like to go see trees every now and then.

Avelo is offering a spring break promotion out of ILM. It's a push for added passengers from UNC-W. This will definitely work as most college students are limited in the amount of spending money the have on hand to take trips.

Des in ILM,

With the popularity of Hilton Head during the summer season, do you think HHH could support/accommodate mainline ops (up to the size of A319, A220-100, E190, 73G)?

MavyWavyATR wrote:

With the popularity of Hilton Head during the summer season, do you think HHH could support/accommodate mainline ops (up to the size of A319, A220-100, E190, 73G)?

The length of the runway is the problem. Any aircraft that size would be very weight restricted. Thats why they only got Dash-8's..