Myrtle Beach airport traffic drops 20%

Air service has dipped 30 percent and the number of passengers has fallen 20 percent this spring at Myrtle Beach International Airport, according to airport officials.

That has caused a cloudy financial outlook at the airport, despite some good news Friday that Spirit Airlines will expand service to Myrtle Beach.

A new Spirit route to Boston and additional seats on existing flights could help fill the service hole left when Hooters Air pulled out of the airport earlier this month.

Still, more carriers and service are needed to pump up business to previous levels.

Many see the airport as key to expanding tourism beyond its heavy dependence on drive-in visitors.

Traffic at the Myrtle Beach airport dropped off drastically after the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and has climbed back to previous levels since.

While the search for new service continues, the county will consider hiring a private company as a fixed-base operator to handle airport services such as fuel, baggage and hangar management. The county is now in charge of the operations.

Source: Travis Tritten, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC