GSP airport changes for future

The president/CEO of Greenville-Spartanburg airport, speaking today in Oconee County, said a four-year renovation project there amounts to “literally a rebuild” of the approximate 50-year airport. GSP is spending $125 million to overhaul its passenger terminal, grounds, and other amenities—in a way to make the entire facilities a true 21st century experience for the users. GSP’s David Edwards spoke to the January business forum of the Oconee Economic Alliance and tied many of his remarks to the economic benefits to the communities surrounding the airport and how the communities’ business success can help the airport thrive into the future. The airport in 2013 accommodated 1.8 million passengers, but projects the number of annual passengers could balloon to 4 million by 2035. The airport relies on cargo transport as a major part of its business, and Edwards gives credit to the nearby BMW manufacturing plant for a sizeable part of that. Among what Edwards asked his Oconee County audience to take away from his presentation is that when passengers choose other airports GSP is negatively affected. He credited the addition of Southwest Air, GSP’s sixth carrier, for increased travel business and competitive pricing that makes the airport a better choice these days.