Myrtle Beach International Airport

Myrtle Beach International Airport (IATA: MYR[4], ICAO: KMYR, FAA LID: MYR) is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was formerly known as Myrtle Beach Jetport (1974–1989) and is located on site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, which also includes The Market Common shopping complex.

For the United States Air Force use of the facility before March 1993, see Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.

Myrtle Beach International Airport
Terminal at Myrtle Beach International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerHorry County
OperatorHorry County Department of Airports[1]
ServesMyrtle Beach, South Carolina
Elevation AMSL25 ft / 8 m
Coordinates33°40′47″N 078°55′42″W
WebsiteFlyMyrtleBeach.com
Maps

FAA airport diagram
MYR
Location of airport in South Carolina/United States
MYR
MYR (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 9,503 2,897 Asphalt / Concrete
Statistics (2019)
Total passengers2,611,563
Aircraft operations (2018)125,195
Sources: FAA,[2] Horry County[3]

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.[5] Myrtle Beach has the second-busiest airport in South Carolina behind Charleston, with over 2.4 million passengers (arriving and departing) in 2018.[6][7]

The airport's official website since 2006 is flymyrtlebeach.com,[8] which was previously an unofficial website owned by an airport employee.[9] In July 2012 the airport launched a redesigned website with a new logo.[10][11][12]

History

Joint use of Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was first agreed in 1955.[13] The airport and terminal was constructed in 1975 and opened in 1976. On April 20, 1977, an agreement between the City of Myrtle Beach and the U.S. Department of Defense was signed, which incorporated the area of Myrtle Beach Airport into the city. Until 1993, both MYR and Myrtle Beach AFB jointly used the main runway; this limited civil operations to 30 landings per day and led to a local business movement to build an entirely new airport.[14]

In the 1980s, the airport was served by Piedmont Airlines mainline aircraft (later acquired by USAir) and by Delta and Eastern commuter aircraft.[15]

In 1993, the Air Force closed the base as a result of BRAC 1991. The runway and other portions of the former military flight line were then turned over to the Horry County Department of Airports.[16]

American Eagle became a major carrier at MYR in the early 1990s, operating multiple daily ATR 72 flights to the American Airlines hub at Raleigh–Durham International Airport. By late 1994 this route accounted for as much as 12% of the airport's passenger traffic; however, American abruptly ended its American Eagle hub at Raleigh–Durham in December 1994, cancelling all service to MYR and other secondary airports in the region.[17] American returned to Myrtle Beach in 2010 with a seasonal service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.[18]

On April 1, 1996, Myrtle Beach Airport became an international airport. A new international terminal had its grand opening August 21 of that year, and a new logo was unveiled "to reflect the architectural design of the airport's terminal and the influence of the beach by showing a pained window and a palm tree in blues and greens".[19]

The airport served as the main hub for Hooters Air from 2003 until 2006. The airport authority offered discounted hangar space and other undisclosed benefits to Hooters Air operator Pace Airlines in an effort to relocate its operating base from Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[20] However, Pace decided to keep its base (also used for charter operations) in Winston-Salem.[21]

In 2006 AirTran Airways discontinued its service to Atlanta; it was the fourth-largest airline serving Myrtle Beach International at the time.[22]

Direct Air connected a number of airports to Myrtle Beach from 2007 until 2012, when it abruptly filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations.[23] The failure of Direct Air caused a slump in passenger traffic at Myrtle Beach,[24] which declined 16% in 2012 but rebounded in 2013. WestJet began service to Toronto in summer 2013 with a revenue guarantee from Horry County, but its passenger numbers fell short of expectations, forcing the county to pay WestJet around $570,000.[25]

The airport was a designated launch abort site for the Space Shuttle, but was never used.[26]

Renovations

In 2008 two renovations took place in the terminal building. In July 2010, the FAA approved a $4.50 passenger facilities charge on all airline tickets to and from MYR in order to defray part of the cost for the terminal upgrade.[27]

Facilities and aircraft

Myrtle Beach International Airport covers an area of 3,795 acres (1,536 ha) at an elevation of 25 feet (8 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 18/36 with an asphalt and concrete surface measuring 9,503 by 150 feet (2,897 x 46 m).[2] The airport's entrance is on Harrelson Boulevard.[28]

The Dr. W.L. Harrelson Terminal Building is named for Myrtle Beach's first mayor, Dr. Wilford Leroy Harrelson, who served from March 1938 to December 1939 and again from January 1942 to December 1943. The city purchased land for the municipal airport during his first term, and the terminal at the airport was named in his honor.

MYR has a dedicated helipad primarily used by charter tour companies at the base of runway 36.

For the 12-month period ending January 31, 2018, the airport had 121,867 aircraft operations, an average of 334 per day: 62% air taxi, 17% scheduled commercial, 16% general aviation, and 5% military. At that time, 58 aircraft were based at the airport: 37 single-engine, 14 multi-engine, 1 jet, and 6 helicopter.[2]

The airport had a dedicated air cargo building at the entrance of the airport. This building closed a few years ago and is used primarily by airport maintenance for storage.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Seasonal: Albany, Allentown, Belleville/St. Louis, Cincinnati, Clarksburg, Cleveland, Columbus–Rickenbacker, Elmira (NY),[29] Fort Wayne, Hagerstown (MD), Harrisburg, Huntington, Indianapolis, Knoxville,[30] Lexington, Louisville, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Portsmouth (NH), Providence,[31] Newburgh, Syracuse
American Airlines Charlotte
Seasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth
American Eagle Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, New York–LaGuardia, Washington–National
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Delta Connection Atlanta
Seasonal: Detroit
Frontier Airlines Newark
Seasonal: Denver, Long Island/Islip, Philadelphia, Trenton
Porter Airlines Seasonal: Toronto–Billy Bishop
Spirit Airlines Atlantic City, Baltimore, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, New York–LaGuardia, Orlando
Seasonal: Charleston (WV), Chicago–O'Hare, Cleveland, Columbus–Glenn, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Hartford, Houston-Intercontinental, Kansas City, Latrobe/Pittsburgh, Minneapolis/St Paul, Niagara Falls, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Plattsburgh
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
United Airlines Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Newark
United Express Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Newark, Denver
WestJet Encore Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Express Columbia (SC)
UPS Airlines Columbia (SC)

Statistics

Airline market share
Largest Airlines at MYR (April 2019 – March 2020)[6]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Spirit Airlines 1,234,000 49.78%
2 Delta Air Lines 269,000 10.84%
3 PSA Airlines 263,000 10.60%
4 Allegiant Air 215,000 8.66%
5 American Airlines 141,000 5.70%
- Other 358,000 14.43%

Top destinations
Busiest domestic routes from MYR (April 2019 – March 2020)[6]
Rank City Passengers Airline
1 Charlotte, North Carolina 202,640 American
2 Atlanta, Georgia 143,340 Delta
3 New York–LaGuardia, New York 86,830 American, Delta, Spirit
4 Newark, New Jersey 70,430 Spirit, United
5 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 64,390 American, Spirit
6 Detroit, Michigan 56,080 Delta, Spirit
7 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 51,640 American, Spirit, United
8 Atlantic City, New Jersey 47,230 Spirit
9 Baltimore, Maryland 45,150 Spirit
10 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 44,510 Spirit

Annual traffic
Annual passenger traffic at MYR
2000–Present[32]
YearPassengersYearPassengers
20001,582,37220101,736,138
20011,421,08120111,759,874
20021,260,12120121,482,554
20031,335,49620131,664,917
20041,535,21220141,749,657
20051,566,40920151,830,071
20061,440,40020161,942,927
20071,683,82320172,277,044
20081,565,37220182,467,093
20091,485,39320192,611,563

Accidents and incidents
  • On July 23, 1950, a USAF Curtiss C-46 Commando crashed 1.9 miles west of Myrtle Beach AFB when the left aileron detached after takeoff and lost control at an altitude of about 1000-2000 feet. Both wings failed and the aircraft crashed. All four crew and 35 occupants were killed.[33]
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References
  1. "Horry County Department of Airports page on Horry County Government Website". Horry County, South Carolina. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. FAA Airport Master Record for MYR (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. effective September 14, 2017.
  3. "MYR Passenger Deplanements. Retrieved on Jun 17, 2019". Flymyrtlebeach.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  4. "IATA Airport Code Search (MYR: Myrtle Beach)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  5. "List of NPIAS Airports" (PDF). FAA.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 21, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  6. "Myrtle Beach, SC: Myrtle Beach International (MYR)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of Transportation. March 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  7. Spring, Jake (December 31, 2010). "Flier breaks Myrtle Beach International Airport record". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  8. "Myrtle Beach International Airport". FlyMyrtleBeach.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2006.
  9. "UNOFFICIAL site of Aviation in the Myrtle Beach". FlyMyrtleBeach.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2005.
  10. "Myrtle Beach International Airport (old website and logo)". FlyMyrtleBeach.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012.
  11. "Myrtle Beach International Airport (new website and logo)". FlyMyrtleBeach.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012.
  12. "Myrtle Beach International Airport Launches New Website" (PDF) (Press release). Horry County Department of Airports. August 8, 2012.
  13. "Ruling Due in About 2 Months on Myrtle Beach Air Base Use". Charleston, S.C.: The News and Courier. January 26, 1956. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  14. "Task force calls for 'international airport' in Myrtle Beach". Wilmington Morning Star. September 18, 1987. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  15. "Two Carriers Want To Land Large Jets in Myrtle Beach". Charleston, S.C.: The News and Courier. February 2, 1989. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  16. "FORMER MYRTLE BEACH AIR FORCE BASE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN" (PDF).
  17. "Airport officials aren't sweating airline's decision to end service". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. December 12, 1994. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  18. "American Eagle Airlines Launches Nonstop Jet Service Between Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport". PR Newswire. April 6, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  19. Merx, Katie (August 22, 1996). "Airport Has Global Outlook: International Terminal Open for Business". Myrtle Beach, S.C.: The Sun News.
  20. "Myrtle Beach woos N.C. airline". Wilmington Morning Star. February 27, 2003.
  21. "Hooters Air flying to Myrtle Beach". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. December 29, 2002.
  22. Bryant, Dawn (December 22, 2006). "AirTran Departs Myrtle Beach". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C.: AviationPros.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  23. Wren, David (November 13, 2013). "Bank going after Myrtle Beach-based Direct Air's former owners for $25 million debt". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  24. "Myrtle Beach Int'l Airport lands new Canadian carrier". StarNews. February 11, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  25. Bryant, Dawn (November 19, 2013). "Rebound continues at Myrtle Beach International Airport, momentum expected to continue into 2014". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  26. "Space Shuttle Emergency Landing Sites". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  27. "Myrtle Beach airport ticket fee to increase: Cash will help fund expansion". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C. January 12, 2011. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  28. Bryant, Dawn; Saldinger, Ava; Spring, Jake (January 2, 2011). "Top business stories to watch in 2011 in Myrtle Beach area". The Sun News. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  29. "Allegiant Announces Largest Service Expansion In Company History With 3 New Cities And 44 Nonstop Routes". Allegiant Airlines.
  30. "Allegiant Announces Largest Service Expansion In Company History With 3 New Cities And 44 Nonstop Routes". Allegiant Airlines.
  31. "Allegiant Announces Largest Service Expansion In Company History With 3 New Cities And 44 Nonstop Routes". Allegiant Airlines.
  32. "MYR Passenger Deplanements. Retrieved on Jun 17, 2019". Flymyrtlebeach.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  33. Accident description for 44-77577 at the Aviation Safety Network


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