Hilton Head Airport
In the spring of 2019, United Airlines began seasonal service to its hubs at Chicago-O’Hare, Newark, and Washington-Dulles, and American Airlines added seasonal service to its Washington-National hub to its existing service to Charlotte. Growth continued in May 2019, when Delta Air Lines resumed year round service to its hub in Atlanta, as well as adding a new seasonal route to New York-LaGuardia. All of these flights are operated by regional affiliates. One public charter airline operates limited service. It is the only airport on Hilton Head Island.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport. USDOT records say the airport had 56,330 passengers in calendar year 2017.
Many U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, but this airport is HXD to the FAA and HHH to the IATA. The IATA code HHH is used for airline booking.
History
Hilton Head Island has been known for championship golf courses for decades. In the 1960s it was decided that an airport would allow an increase in the number of visitors to the island. Hilton Head Island Airport opened in 1967 after Arnold Palmer told Charles E. Fraser that he would play golf on Hilton Head if there was an airport for him to land. On July 5, 2018, Piedmont Airlines’ Bombardier Dash 8 service was ceased, and Republic Airways began serving Hilton Head Airport with the E175 regional jet. This marked the first commercially scheduled jet service to the airport.
In the past the airport was served by the following air carriers operating scheduled passenger flights:
- 1972 - 1977: Air South (Georgia) with service to Atlanta operated with a Fairchild F-27.
- 1980 - 1984: Atlantis Airlines with service to Atlanta and Charlotte, operated with a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. The carrier became affiliated with Eastern Air Lines in 1985 and began operating as Eastern Atlantis Express.
- 1991 - 1994: American Eagle Airlines with service to Raleigh-Durham, operated with ATR 42, ATR 72 and Saab 340 aircraft.
- April 23, 1995 - May 3, 1997 Midway Connection (Great Lakes Airlines) to Raleigh-Durham, operated with a Beech 1900
- March 1, 1998 - December 11, 1999: Continental Connection (Colgan Air) with service to Atlanta, operated with a Beech 1900
- March 12, 2000 - August 6, 2015 US Airways Express with service to Charlotte and Washington, D.C., operated with a Bombardier Dash 8
- March 17, 2007 - November 30, 2008: Delta Connection (Atlantic Southeast Airlines) with service to Atlanta, operated with an ATR 72
- March 4, 2010 - November 1, 2010: Delta Connection (Mesaba Airlines) with service to Atlanta, operated with a Saab 340
Facilities
Hilton Head Island Airport covers 180 acres (53 ha) at an elevation of 19 feet (6 m). Its one runway, 3/21, is 5,000 by 100 feet (1,524 x 30 m). The runway was extended from 4,300 feet to 5,000 feet in the summer of 2018. The FAA had recommended the runway be extended to 5,300 feet but public opinion on Hilton Head Island necessitated a smaller extension. In October 2010, the airport adopted a master plan that called for a 5,400 feet extension. However, that did not come to fruition.
Other safety improvements to the airport have been completed since 2018, including the relocation of Taxiway A by 100 feet, added airfield drainage components, removal of trees in the flight path and the revision of the general aviation parking area.
The current terminal building was built in 1995. At 18,000 square feet (1,700 m), it has four airline gates. In 2023, the airport began construction on a terminal improvement project. The project will include a new TSA checkpoint, new boarding areas, and the addition of two jet bridges.
For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2018, the airport had 37,632 aircraft operations, an average of 103 per day: 81% general aviation, 17% air taxi and 2% military. In July 2018, there were 89 aircraft based at this airport: 62% single-engine, 26% multi-engine, 9% jet, 2% helicopter and 1% ultralight.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
 |
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| American Eagle | Charlotte Seasonal: Boston, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Washington–National |
| Delta Connection | Seasonal: Atlanta, New York–LaGuardia |
| United Express | Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Newark |
| Destinations map |
|---|
Statistics
Top destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte, North Carolina | 54,000 | American |
| 2 | Atlanta, Georgia | 22,000 | Delta |
| 3 | Washington–Reagan, Virginia | 13,000 | American |
| 4 | Newark, New Jersey | 10,000 | United |
| 5 | Washington–Dulles, Virginia | 5,000 | United |
| 6 | Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois | 2,000 | American, United |
| 7 | New York-LaGuardia, New York | 2,000 | American |
| 8 | Boston, Massachusetts | 1,000 | American |
| 9 | Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas | 1,000 | American |
| 10 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1,000 | American |
Annual traffic
| Year | Passengers | Year | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 146,000 | 2010 | 151,000 |
| 2019 | 221,000 | 2009 | 136,000 |
| 2018 | 75,620 | 2008 | 161,000 |
| 2017 | 56,330 | 2007 | 172,000 |
| 2016 | 64,700 | 2006 | 126,000 |
| 2015 | 79,000 | 2005 | 135,000 |
| 2014 | 112,000 | 2004 | 128,000 |
| 2013 | 117,000 | 2003 | 123,000 |
| 2012 | 122,000 | 2002 | |
| 2011 | 123,000 | 2001 |
| Rank | Airline | Passengers | Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic | 157,000 | 71.81% |
| 2 | Envoy | 44,000 | 20.10% |
| 3 | GoJet | 13,000 | 9.23% |
| 4 | Mesa | 4,000 | 2.02% |
See also
References
- ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for HXD PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective Nov 30, 2017.
- ^ "RITA - BTS - Transtats". bts.gov. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- ^ "Hilton Head Island Airport". Beaufort County. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
- ^ "IATA Airport Code Search (HHH: Hilton Head)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Hilton Head Airport (IATA: HHH, ICAO: KHXD, FAA: HXD)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Hilton Head Island Airport Master Plan Update" (PDF). 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ Wilson, Lisa (12 April 2018). "Hilton Head Island airport upgrades attracting larger planes to the runway". Island Packet. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ https://www.departedflights.com/HHH75p1.html
- ^ https://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-South/Fairchild-F-27J/1930824/L
- ^ "Timetables". Sunshine Skies.
- ^ "Runway Improvements at Hilton Head Airport Enhance Safety, Service Options & Stormwater Management | Airport Improvement Magazine". airportimprovement.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
- ^ Mayle, Mary Carr (15 March 2017). "Hilton Head airport to expand runway". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ "Hilton Head airport runway extension to be completed in June". Island Packet. May 10, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ "HHH is growing to better serve you". www.hiltonheadairport.com. September 29, 2023. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
External links
- Official website
- Hilton Head (HXD) at South Carolina Aeronautics Commission website
- Signature Flight Support, the fixed-base operator
- Map of the airport from OpenStreetMap
- FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective November 28, 2024
- FAA Terminal Procedures for HXD, effective November 28, 2024
- Resources for this airport:
- FAA airport information for HXD
- AirNav airport information for KHXD
- ASN accident history for HHH
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
- SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures