Record-breaking travel numbers expected at CHS following holiday weekend

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Charleston International Airport officials expect to see an increase in travelers after this year’s Fourth of July weekend.

On Sunday, the traffic at the airport appears to depend on departure and arrival times, which causes cars to back up and longer wait lines.

Charleston International Airport Deputy Executive Director and Chief Communications Officer Spencer Pryor listed five main travel tips before the holiday weekend:

• Plan Ahead: Check your flight status. Expect larger crowds and longer wait times.
• Plan to Park: Drivers should allow extra time for remote parking and shuttle service to the terminal.  A complimentary shuttle service is available if you must park in remote/seasonal parking.
• Arrive Early: Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before domestic and 3 hours before international flights to account for increased security screenings and potential delays.
• Check Bags: Use CHS Check ‘N Go’s free baggage check-in service for domestic travel.  Two stations are located on the terminal front curb, and a remote check-in station is on the 2nd level of the daily parking garage.
• Pack Smart: Follow TSA guidelines for liquids, gels, and electronics. Consider using TSA PreCheck to expedite the process.

One couple traveling back home to Montana said they expected a heavy travel traffic day flying around the holidays, so they used some of these tips.

“Making sure we had everything, we traveled as light as possible and just leave early enough to get through the crowds,” traveler Les Kahler said.

Kahler said he and his wife arrived at the airport six hours ahead of their departure time but were told by the airline they were not able to check two hours beforehand.

Despite AAA projecting a new travel record of 5.74 million people flying over Independence Day, there were some who proceeded as normal.

“I probably packed more than I ever did before, and didn’t pay attention to it. We each all went out and probably did the exact opposite of what everybody told us to do, and we made it here totally fine,” traveler Angie Isaac said.

Charleston International Airport said they are dedicated to making a smooth and safe travel experience for vacations, work trips or family gatherings throughout the summer.

Airport officials have not yet released numbers on just how busy they were during the week of the Fourth of July.

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