"Myrtle Beach, S.C., airport plans to add more temporary terminal space"

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Myrtle Beach, S.C., airport plans add more temporary terminal space
The Myrtle Beach (SC) Sun-News


Even as airlines continue to add flights, Myrtle Beach International
Airport plans to spend up to $3 million on temporary expansions to
relieve airport crowding before a new terminal opens in 2007.

The expansions would include the use of a nearby airplane parking area
for planes, which would serve as the equivalent of three extra gates.
Passengers would be bused to and from the planes. The area, once used by
the Air Force, could be upgraded for about $700,000.

About $2.3 million would be spent to add temporary terminal space to
house new airline ticketing and baggage counters. For about the same
price tag, airport officials could build three modular expansions to add
three more ticket counters or buy a temporary building shell that would
house three counters.

Officials are now working out the details of a new terminal building, to
be built on the opposite side of the runway. The 14-gate, $185 million
project is expected to open in 2007. Work could begin next month.

But the airport continues to grow, and airport Director Bob Kemp said
the new terminal won't open in time to relieve overcrowding.

Passenger totals for June increased 15 percent over June 2003, compared
with 9 percent growth at airports nationwide. Already, he said, arriving
flights sometimes wait on the tarmac for available gates.

United Airlines announced Tuesday that it would begin flights to Chicago
and Washington next year, and Kemp said he expects other airlines to add
flights in the coming years. The number of weekly flights, destinations
and airlines at the airport has grown steadily since a post-Sept. 11,
2001, attacks slowdown in 2002.

Kemp said he doesn't want the cramped conditions at the airport to
impede that growth.

"We want to be prepared to accept an airline when they're ready to come
to us," Kemp said. "We don't want to tell anybody: 'We're sorry, but
...'" There's no timeline for when the expansions could come online, but
Kemp said he'd like to make a decision soon.

First, Kemp will have to find a way to pay for the expansion. With the
airport cinching its belt to come up with funding for the new terminal,
Kemp said finding the money for the temporary expansions will be a
challenge.

One idea is to ask Myrtle Beach to contribute money toward the final
price tag. Mayor Mark McBride said the city is considering the idea.

If the county opts for the larger shell structure, it could be given to
the city to use for recreational programs when the new terminal opens,
according to County Councilman Mark Lazarus.


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