Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the state of South Carolina’s busiest airport. The airport shares runways with the U.S. Air Force in a joint-use agreement with Joint Base Charleston.
CHS is located in North Charleston, 12 miles northwest of downtown Charleston, the largest city in the state.
Charleston Airport served over 6.2 million passengers in 2024, ranking among the top 60 airports in the USA.
Major Airlines - Breeze Airways, American Airlines, Delta Airlines
Charleston Airport is an operating base for the low-cost Breeze Airways, which flies to the greatest number of destinations from CHS.
Despite that, three bigger airlines have a larger market share and serve more passengers:
American Airlines flies to Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Philadelphia.
Delta Air Lines flies to Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and New York.
Southwest Airlines flies to Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, and Nashville.
Together, these three airlines capture just over 50% of the market flying through CHS.
The fourth of the Big 4 in US civil aviation, United Airlines, also operates flights to several routes, including Chicago, Denver, Newark, and Washington.
Other smaller airlines with scheduled flights at CHS include JetBlue Airways, Allegiant Air, and Frontier Airlines, all three serving the low-cost segment of the market.
The only international flights come from Toronto by Air Canada and from Bermuda by BermuAid. Both have US pre-clearance facilities at the origin, so they arrive as if they were domestic flights.
These airlines offer nonstop flights to over 50 destinations. Check out all airlines serving CHS here and all destinations you can reach by a direct flight here.
Terminal Layout and Gates
CHS has 1 terminal, last renovated in 2016. Oddly for an airport, both Departures and Arrivals are located on the same floor: Departures at the east end of the terminal and Arrivals at the west end.
The airport has two concourses with a common security checkpoint:
Concourse A: Has 8 A Gates and primarily serves Delta Air Lines and Delta Connection.
Concourse B: Has 10 B Gates utilized by the other airlines, including International Arrivals.
The two concourses are connected airside via a walkway.
Wi-Fi at CHS
Charleston International Airport has free Wi-Fi called “CHSFREEWIFI".
It reaches all areas of the terminal.
To connect, all you need to do is select the network. No registrations or passwords required - the connection should be automatic.
Amenities and Services at Charleston Airport
Travelers’ convenience is held in high regard at CHS. Evidence for this are the numerous amenities and services provided at the airport.
Over 2000 electrical outlets and USB ports for charging electronic devices.
Three designated service animal relief areas, including 1 after Security, near Gate A2.
A FedEx drop-off box and a USPS mail slot.
Two nursing suites, including one after Security, in Concourse B.
A Lost and Found office.
Therapy dogs at Paws for Takeoff.
A Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme.
Dining Options at Charleston Airport
Here are 8 top dining options at Charleston International Airport (CHS), each located in different areas of the terminal:
Central Marketplace
Kardea Brown's Southern Kitchen: A newly opened (2025), Gullah-inspired Southern cuisine from Food Network star Kardea Brown, celebrating Lowcountry flavors and culture.
Chick-fil-A: A fast food chain famous for chicken sandwiches, nuggets, salads, and breakfast items. Note that it’s closed on Sundays.
Starbucks: A classic coffeehouse, a favorite of millions of Americans, offering espresso drinks, teas, pastries, and light snacks for early travelers.
Concourse A
Charleston Beer Works: Local sports bar offering beers from Charleston and the region and pub fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Concourse B
DeSano Pizza Bakery: Wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas with fresh ingredients, plus local craft beers and wines
Commonhouse Aleworks: North Charleston-based brewery serving a variety of craft beers and other beverages.
Dunkin' Donuts: This is a full-service location (not barely a kiosk) offering coffee, donuts, breakfast sandwiches, and more.
Lounges at Charleston Airport
The only lounge at the airport is the publicly accessible The Club CHS.
It is located airside near Concourse B and offers six distinct zones with complimentary light meals, snacks, beverages, Wi-Fi, and charging stations.
The lounge is open daily from 4:10 AM to 8:30 PM, and access is available to Priority Pass members, select premium credit card holders, or by purchasing a day pass for 60 USD.
Transport to and from CHS
Access to the various Ground Transportation options is outside of the Baggage Claim area of the terminal (west end).
The Charleston Area Regional Authority (CARTA) runs a public bus to the Tanger Outlet Center and Downtown Charleston. The Airport’s CARTA stop is a well-lit, covered shelter located on the outside curb just outside of Arrivals.
A few meters away, along the curb, are the taxis. Attendants there quote prices based on distance, with a minimum charge of 17 USD for all rides originating from the airport.
In the same area, you will find shuttles. Companies like GCT Chauffeured Services offer pre-booked transportation. If you’re staying at a hotel that offers a complimentary shuttle, it’s here you will find it too. For more information about private shuttles, click here.
Across the road and towards the parking garage is the designated pick-up location for ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft, and KreweCar. Use the corresponding app to arrange a ride.
Lastly, Rental Cars are available within the Rental Car Pavilion at the end of the terminal past Baggage Claim, though the drop-off location is on Level 1 of the five-tier parking deck. Eight companies provide services at the airport, including Avis, Budget, Dollar, and Hertz.
Parking at CHS
Charleston Airport offers over 6000 parking spaces in 4 different parking areas:
Hourly Parking Garage: Two floors of covered parking with an uncovered third floor, just 2 minutes walking from the terminal. The parking fee is 3 USD per hour or 21 USD per day.
Daily Parking Garage: Not too far away is this covered parking, which costs 5 USD per hour or 17 USD per day.
Economy Parking Lots A & B: Budget-friendly surface lots with a shuttle service to the terminal every 5 minutes. Rates are 5 USD per hour or 13 USD per day.
Overflow Parking: Available during peak travel periods and holidays, when the parking garages get full. Also has a shuttle service. Costs 5 USD per hour or 13 USD per day.
Valet Parking: This is the first-class option for those who value convenience and time over price. Hand your keys to an attendant just a few yards from the terminal's entrance and forget about your vehicle until you arrive and have it waiting for you out in front. This service costs 10 USD for the first hour of each day, 3 USD for each additional hour, and 25 USD maximum per day.
If you’re picking up passengers but have time to spare before their flight lands, best to wait at the free Cell Phone Waiting Area. It has a capacity of 60 spaces, located on the right side of International Blvd, very close to the main terminal.
Hotels near Charleston Airport
There are no hotels within the airport grounds, but more than a few are located within a few minutes' car ride, and most offer complimentary shuttles back and forth.
Two of the closest hotels are the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel North Charleston - Convention Center and the Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport. They both provide a premium 3-star experience complete with nice, quiet rooms, outstanding breakfast, top-notch service, and high standards.
Charleston, SC, USA
