James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 71
his past September
Savannah Airport
Commission Chair
Steve Green and
myself held a State
of the Airport event
for the community and region at
the newly expanded Savannah
Convention Center. The talk show
formatted event moderated by Michael Owens, CEO of the Savannah
Tourism Leadership Council, was
designed to provide a comprehensive update on the following:
SAV’s Air Service Growth
SAV’s International
Air Service Initiatives
SAV’s Need for a New
I-95 Interchange
SAV’s Economic Impact
Georgia’s Airport Funding Gap
CAPITAL EXPANSION PROGRAM
I’m pleased to share with readers that this program is well under
way. The new 100,000 square
foot air cargo complex is nearing
completion. Both FEDEX and UPS
have signed long term lease agreements and are scheduled to begin
operating out of the new facilities
in Q2 2026. The $60 million terminal expansion project is 70 percent
complete with the new security
checkpoint already operational and
the 4 gate concourse expansion
slated for completion in Q3 2026.
The taxiway G project will double
the taxiing capacity for the new
air cargo complex, the Gulfstream
north campus and future northwest development area is 80 percent complete. The new southeast
quadrant business and general
aviation campus is expected to be
complete by Q3 2026.
Additionally, design work is
underway for a new $80 million
parking deck, a $10 million terminal
modernization project, a $20 million
in-line outbound bag system, and a
$13 million bypass taxi lane for the
north terminal apron. These projects
will position this airport to meet our
future growth projections and development plans for years to come.
Funding for this capital expansion
program comes from airport funds,
Federal Aviation Agency grants,
passenger facility charges and some
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) grants.
AIR SERVICE GROWTH
With last year’s addition of
Spirit Airlines, SAV now has service
from all of the domestic airlines
except Alaska and Hawaiian. In
addition to Spirit beginning SAV
service, other carriers have also
added new routes and/or increased capacity on existing routes
as shown below.
American Increased capacity to
CLT, MIA, and PHL. Added daily
service to ORD.
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