Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has broken a new record by welcoming over 3 million passengers in 2025. This achievement can be attributed to the efforts of both legacy and budget airlines alike, according to Kevin Howell, the president and CEO of the Greenville Airport District.
One of the major contributing factors to this growth is the addition of new flights and an increase in flight frequency by various airlines. Breeze Airways, a budget carrier, now offers nonstop flights to Pittsburgh, PA and Fort Myers, FL. Meanwhile, legacy carriers Delta and United have also increased their flight frequency to New York City and Chicago respectively.
Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on air travel in 2020, the airport has seen consistent growth in passenger traffic since 2013. In 2024, the airport served 2,880,480 passengers, which grew to 3,043,621 in 2025. This growth is a reflection of the thriving population, expanding business activity, and increasing leisure travel market in the Upstate area, according to Howell.
Looking towards the future, the airport is expecting even more growth, with projections of 6 to 7 million passengers per year by 2040. However, Howell assures that the airport will maintain its reputation for excellent customer service and amenities, despite plans for major expansion.
In recent years, the airport has made significant improvements to its operations, including the introduction of Breeze Airways, which offers seasonal nonstop flights to Los Angeles, the first direct connection to the West Coast in the Upstate area. Breeze has also announced plans to add a seasonal flight to Columbus, Ohio this year. Additionally, the airport has completed the construction of new surface parking lots, redesigned its terminal roadway system, and improved its private terminal run by an in-house fixed-base operator.
Furthermore, the airport has signed a partnership agreement with an airport in Germany, which is expected to open up new opportunities for passenger activity and air cargo business between the two locations. To accommodate future growth, the airport has also opened a new parking garage and rental car center in December.
With the goal of expanding its terminal and accommodating the expected increase in passenger traffic, the airport is currently in the planning stage of the project, which is expected to lead into the design phase this year. Construction is estimated to begin in late 2027 or early 2028. Despite these developments, Howell emphasizes that the airport’s top priority is to maintain its reputation as a convenient and pleasant travel experience for all passengers.