Renovations are moving along at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport with changes already complete for the rental car counters, construction underway in the baggage claim area, and new retail and concession options planned.
The four-year, $115 million effort dubbed WINGSPAN, which kicked off in June 2012, will be the second-largest renovation and expansion effort since the airport opened in 1961.
The goal of WINGSPAN is to increase capacity, improve efficiency, incorporate safety processes, integrate sustainable practices and impact the local economic landscape, said GSP spokeswoman Rosylin Weston.
“When completed, we should be able to handle projected growth for the next 20 years,” said Weston. Upgrades and renovations will be able to accommodate new airlines and additional passengers – up to 4 million annually.
The airport attracts 1.8 million passengers annually with 13 departure gates. Six major airlines offer more than 50 daily nonstop flights to 18 major cities across the U.S.
One of the first renovation projects involved relocating the rental car customer service center from inside the airport beside the baggage claim area to outside in Garage A. That has now been completed, and all rental car operations are now handled from one central location.
Transportation Security Administration efficiencies are also in the works. The airport announced last week that by the end of this year, a new TSA pre-check expedited screening program will be available for frequent travelers.
The airport also expects to consolidate the TSA checkpoint into one larger location. Weston said this will improve TSA efficiency as the agency will no longer have to man two checkpoints.
Airline passengers will enter into a grand hall that will include additional dining and retail options. Chick-fil-A, Greenleafs Grille, Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin-Robbins and Hudson News have all signed on.
Renovations have already begun in the baggage claim area and are scheduled to be completed March 2014. Three new baggage carousels will increase capacity by 50 percent. The carousels will also slope, making it easier for passengers to retrieve their bags.
The buildout has also begun in the concourse areas, with a Thomas Creek Grill in each concourse that will be operated by MSE Branded Foods. The new restaurants are not affiliated with Thomas Creek Brewery beyond the use of the name to create a local connection, said Tom Davis, brewmaster and brewery manager at Thomas Creek. Davis does, however, expect that Thomas Creek beer will be served to travelers.
With an eye towards sustainability, the airport intends to do its part by harvesting rainwater that can be used to flush toilets. The front façade of the terminal will include 700 feet of glass that will “not only be beautiful,” said Weston, but will also reduce the airport’s dependence on artificial lighting.
In January, water-bottle filling stations will also be installed in the baggage claim area and throughout the terminal. Installing these stations is a way to address the airport liquids ban that requires travelers to discard beverages before passing through the security checkpoint, as well as the environmental issue of disposable plastic water bottles thrown in the trash daily, said Weston.
New canopies curbside, a covered walkway to Garage A, renovation of ticketing lobbies and a new landside garden are all also included in the renovation plans.
The WINGSPAN plan is designed to make construction impacts as minimal as possible. “Customer service is key in all of this,” said Weston. “Everything we do is driven by the customer experience to have a positive impact and to be consistent with our mission statement to be one of the most user-friendly airports in the county.”
For more information, visit WINGSPAN’s website.
