TAKING OFF FOR TOMORROW.
2024 Annual Report
Exciting Journey Ahead!
A word from
Our Director
As we reflect on the past year, one theme stands out across the entire airport campus: growth. From major upgrades and new construction to meaningful service enhancements, 2024 was a transformative year filled with momentum and progress.
Terminal Building
After 18 months of construction, our brand-new $28 million security checkpoint opened in November—just in time for the busy holiday travel season. This new facility more than doubles our passenger throughput capacity and represents a significant investment in both efficiency and traveler experience.
To support the ongoing terminal gate expansion project, we introduced six new ground boarding gates, ensuring continued service without sacrificing capacity. Additionally, we replaced the original terminal roof from 1994—remarkable for its 30-year lifespan—and installed eight new boarding bridges through our lifecycle replacement program, each representing over $1 million in investment.
Parking
In November, we opened an $8 million 1,000-space surface parking lot south of the terminal, complete with covered pedestrian bridges, walkways, and a dedicated shuttle center. June brought updated parking rates designed to align us with peer airports across the Southeast and support future infrastructure needs.
We also initiated the planning phase for a new 2,000-space parking deck. Design services will begin in mid-2025, and this project is a critical step in meeting our growing demand.
Rental Cars
Our $5.6 million upgrade to the rental car ready lot was completed in April, enhancing fast-track pickup services for preferred customers. We also began planning a $20 million+ expansion of the rental car service center campus, which will benefit all of our rental partners.
General/Business Aviation
Signature Aviation broke ground on a new 22,000 sq. ft. hangar and temporary terminal, with completion expected by Q2 2025. June marked the debut of CAE’s first Gulfstream-dedicated business aviation training center, capable of hosting up to four full flight simulators. Meanwhile, Sheltair has begun expanding its aircraft apron by 3.4 acres, with completion also set for Q2 2025.
Air Cargo
A game-changing $80 million Air Cargo Complex began construction in August. The development includes two 60,000 sq. ft. buildings, with one fully committed to FedEx and the other designed for multiple carriers. UPS has already signed on for 15,000 sq. ft. of space, positioning this complex as a major regional logistics hub.
Gulfstream
In July, Gulfstream opened its $150 million, 367,000 sq. ft. Service Support Structure. This new facility can accommodate 26 aircraft at once, representing a major leap in service capacity.
Military
The Georgia Air National Guard’s 165th Airlift Wing received approval and funding for a significant upgrade to the C-130J aircraft. The first of these advanced aircraft arrived in January, greatly enhancing mission readiness and operational capability.
Air Service
Our air service offerings expanded significantly in 2024. New nonstop routes included:
- Frontier: Cleveland, OH and Denver, CO
- Southwest: St. Louis, MO
- Allegiant: Punta Gorda/Fort Myers, FL; Fort Lauderdale/Miami, FL; St. Pete/Tampa, FL
- Breeze: Providence, RI
These additions bring our total nonstop destinations to 33—deepening our regional and national connectivity.
All of these achievements are part of our $300 million Capital Expansion Plan, and they represent the confidence our partners, airlines, and community have in the future of SAV.
We’re proud of the progress made in 2024 and deeply grateful for the efforts of our Board, staff, tenants, and community stakeholders. Together, we’ve made this a truly successful—and busy—year.
Whenever. Wherever. However.
A word from
Our Chairman
In 1949, the Georgia General Assembly created the Savannah Airport Commission to operate this airport on behalf of the City of Savannah. Seventy-five years later, I am proud to report that we find ourselves in the midst of an unprecedented era of investment and expansion—one that touches every corner of our airport campus.
Five years ago, the Commission established a clear vision for this phase of growth. Today, our exceptional staff is bringing that vision to life with remarkable precision and dedication. From our new security checkpoint and terminal improvements to our expanding cargo operations and general aviation facilities, the progress achieved in 2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary.
We have positioned ourselves well financially to support this development without taking on excessive debt, and we have benefited from highly competitive bids on several major projects. This fiscal strength is a reflection of how far the Commission has come since 1949, when the City of Savannah subsidized the airport for most expenses.
We are especially pleased to see our investment in growth coming to fruition at such a critical time. The new Hyundai Mega Plant and the Savannah Convention Center expansion will undoubtedly drive increased demand for both passenger and cargo capacity, which we will be ready to meet.
There is no question that 2024 marked a significant step forward, reinforcing our position as a major economic engine and transportation hub for Southeast Georgia and Southeast South Carolina. Our $4.2 billion economic impact on the State of Georgia will only continue to grow as we press forward with our aggressive growth plans.
As we reflect on the 75th anniversary of the Savannah Airport Commission, we are honored to build on the legacy of all those who came before us and positioning this airport to meet the aviation needs of our community, our region, and our state for generations to come.
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