Airport History | 2018 Annual Report

HISTORY

Airport Timeline

1918

The first aircraft landing field in Savannah went into operation on the south side of Daffin Park. Aircraft operations continued there until 1930.
1928

A 730-acre tract of land off White Bluff Road was selected as the site for a modern airport to be developed jointly by the city and county.
1929

The Savannah Municipal Airport opened on September 20 with the inauguration of air service between New York City and Miami by Eastern Air Express.
1932

A city resolution named the airport "Hunter Field". A trolley car was used as the first terminal at Hunter Field in the mid 30's.
1940

The U.S. Army Air Corps proposed a complete takeover of Hunter Field if a war started. While commercial airlines continued to land there, a decision was made to construct a second Municipal Airport in response to the increased military presence. The City of Savannah acquired a 600-acre tract and formation of a new airfield commenced under a WPA project. Three runways were constructed.
1942

Before completion of the airfield, the U.S. Army Air Corps found it necessary to take over the new facility and start additional construction. They named the airfield "Chatham Field" and it was used until the end of World War II as a bomber and crew training base.
1948

Chatham Army Airfield was turned over to the Georgia Air National Guard, and the name was changed to "Travis Field." The War Assets Administration gave the deed to Hunter Field to the City of Savannah.
1949

The City of Savannah received a quit claim deed to Travis Field.
1950

The airport was moved from Hunter Field to Travis Field. The first commercial flight from Travis Field was made by Delta Flight 371 with eight passengers to Atlanta.
1953

Runway 9-27 was extended to a length of 8,000 feet to accommodate jet aircraft.
1955

A new Airport Commission was created by an act of the Georgia State Legislature.
1960

A new terminal building was completed and served as the passenger terminal until 1994.
1983

The airport became Savannah International Airport.
1994

A new 275,000 sq. ft. terminal opened in May with 10 gates. The $43M project included new roads, a new aircraft taxiway and parking apron, storm water ponds, landscaping and a new interchange at I-95 for entry into the airport.
2001

September 11 terrorist attacks on America completely shut down air service for the first time in history. When service resumed, new security measures set the tone for air travel for the remainder of 2001.

Airport Ambassador program began with red-coated volunteers roaming the terminal to greet passengers.
2002

Checkpoint screeners came under the control of a Federal Security Director who works for the Department of Transportation.

Name of airport officially became the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
2003

SAV began offering hi-speed wireless internet service throughout the terminal.
2004

Development of Southwest Quadrant began.
2005

The Federal Aviation Administration completed construction and certification of a new Air Traffic Control Tower. The Savannah Airport Commission approved design for a terminal expansion that would add five gates to the concourse.

The airport boarded its millionth passenger.
2006

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the $35M parking garage was held on June 23, 2006.

Gulfstream announced construction of new service center in the Southwest Quadrant and a new manufacturing plant in the Northwest Quadrant.
2007

The $14.2M terminal expansion project was completed, adding 5 departure gates to the existing 10 and 10,000 sq. ft. of additional retail and food/beverage space.

A $6M consolidated maintenance operations center was completed.

A new $35M, four-level parking garage opened, adding 1,690 parking spaces.
2009

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the U.S. Customs and Border Protection General Aviation Processing Facility renovations.
2010

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation announced $500M expansion project in the north development area.
2012

TSA installed body scanners at the Security Checkpoint.

Savannah Airport Commission transferred governance of the Foreign Trade Zone to the World Trade Center Savannah.

Georgia Lottery came to SAV.
2013

SAV celebrated the completion of the North Aviation Development Area and newly extended Taxiway A.

Patrick S. Graham retired as Executive Director for the Savannah Airport Commission.
2014

Gregory B. Kelly was appointed as Executive Director of the Savannah Airport Commission.

JetBlue launched nonstop service to New York and Boston.

The I-95 Interchange interim improvement project was completed.
2017

Air Canada launched nonstop service from Toronto to Savannah.

Auntie Anne’s, Stella Bar, Great American Bagel, and Leopold’s Ice Cream opened in the concourse.