“Runway 10 is clear for takeoff.” But did you know that Runway 10 at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport has a secret? Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport isn’t just a place to catch a flight. It is a place with stories etched into its very grounds.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is a commercial and military airport. It serves Savannah and Hilton Head Island. The City of Savannah owns it. The Savannah Airport Commission manages it. It sits seven nautical miles northwest of Savannah’s Historic District. Interstate 95 provides direct access.
Originally, the airport was named Travis Field. Before that it was Chatham Field. In 1929, the first Savannah Municipal Airport opened. Eastern Air Express inaugurated air service between New York and Miami. That marked an important milestone. A trolley car served as the first terminal. This was at Hunter Field in the mid-1930s.
During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Corps took over. They built a new airfield. It became Chatham Field. It served as a bomber base and crew training site. In 1948, it was renamed Travis Field. This honored Brigadier General Robert F. Travis.
Jet age arrived in 1965. Delta Air Lines introduced Douglas DC-9-10 flights. Grumman Aircraft opened a Gulfstream plant in 1967. In 1994, a new terminal building was constructed. Though it lacked direct international flights, it was renamed Savannah International Airport in 1983. The name changed again to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in 2003.
Key Airlines briefly operated an international hub in 1992. They offered non-stop flights to the Caribbean and Mexico. Destinations included Antigua, Aruba, and Cancun. Financial difficulties led to the cessation of these flights in 1993.
Now, about that secret on Runway 10. During a runway extension, workers found a small family plot. It contained the graves of the airport property’s original owners, the Dotson Family. The family did not want to move the graves. So, the markers were placed on the asphalt runway. Runway 10 is thought to be the only airport runway in the United States with marked gravestones. The earliest grave dates back to 1857. Federal law protects graves. Since the next of kin could not be located, the graves remain undisturbed.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport continues to grow. A terminal expansion was completed in 2007. It added five departure gates. A parking garage was also added that year. International service resumed in 2017 with Air Canada.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport has earned accolades. Travel+Leisure World’s Best Awards named it the #1 Best Domestic Airport in 2022. Condé Nast Traveler magazine also ranked it as the US #1 airport.
Today, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport spans 3,650 acres. It features two runways. The primary runway, 10/28, measures 9,351 feet. The airport hosts numerous daily aircraft operations. General aviation, air taxi, commercial, and military flights all contribute to this bustling activity. The 165th Airlift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard is also stationed here.
Future expansion is underway to accommodate passenger growth. These include expanded TSA security lanes and additional gates. New parking lots are also planned. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport continues to connect people. It links them to history, relaxation, and new adventures. As you pass through, remember the stories beneath your feet. Remember the innovation above your head. This is Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.