September passenger counts increase again

Charleston International Airport passenger counts increased an overall 8.8 percent in September.

Enplanements rose 8.1 percent and deplanements rose 9.4 percent last month as compared with September 2017. People flying in and out rose from 290,436 to 315,970 for the month. The increase was in spite of tropical weather that threatened, but missed, the area last month.

Since January, 3.3 million people have flown in and out of the airport, a 12 percent increase over the same nine-month period last year.

“With three months left in the year we are on track to hit a record-breaking milestone. I expect we will top 4.3 million passengers in 2018,” said Paul G. Campbell Jr., executive director and CEO of the Charleston County Aviation Authority.

“The airport has consistently grown over the last decade,” he said. “It’s been an honor to share in the success of our airlines and all the other businesses in the airport.”

The release of the September passenger data comes on the heels of the Oct. 18 announcement that British Airways will launch nonstop flights from Charleston to London beginning April 4. Flights are scheduled on Thursdays and Sundays. Each 787-8 aircraft that will be used on the twice-a-week flight carries 214 passengers plus crew.

“This has been a particularly exciting year,” Campbell said. “We look forward to what the next few months bring and to what 2019 has in store as we launch our first transatlantic flight to London.”