Hilton Head Airport

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Hilton Head Island Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerBeaufort County
ServesHilton Head Island, South Carolina
Elevation AMSL19 ft (5.8 m)
Coordinates32°13′28″N 080°41′51″W / 32.22444°N 80.69750°W / 32.22444; -80.69750
Websitewww.hiltonheadairport.com
Map
HHH is located in South Carolina
HHH
HHH
Location within South Carolina
Show map of South Carolina
HHH is located in the United States
HHH
HHH
Location within the United States
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Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 5,000 1,524 Asphalt
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2018)37,632
Based aircraft (2018)89
Scheduled departures (2019)1,595
Commercial passengers (2018)75,620
Freight/mail (lb.) (2019)1,587
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1][2]

Hilton Head Airport (IATA: HHH, ICAO: KHXD, FAA LID: HXD) is on Hilton Head Island, in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States.[1] Also known as Hilton Head Island Airport,[3] it is owned by Beaufort County.[1]

In the spring of 2019, United Airlines began seasonal service to its hubs at Chicago-O’Hare, Newark, and Washington-Dulles, and American Airlines added seasonal service to its Washington-National hub to its existing service to Charlotte. Growth continued in May 2019, when Delta Air Lines resumed year-round service to its hub in Atlanta, as well as adding a new seasonal route to New York-LaGuardia. All of these flights are operated by regional affiliates. One public charter airline operates limited service. It is the only airport on Hilton Head Island.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.[4] USDOT records say the airport had 56,330 passengers in calendar year 2017.[2]

Many U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, but this airport is HXD to the FAA[1] and HHH to the IATA.[5][6] The IATA code HHH is used for airline booking.

History

Hilton Head Island has been known for championship golf courses for decades. In the 1960s, it was decided that an airport would allow an increase in the number of visitors to the island. Hilton Head Island Airport opened in 1967 after Arnold Palmer told Charles E. Fraser that he would play golf on Hilton Head if there was an airport for him to land at.[7] On July 5, 2018, Piedmont Airlines’ Bombardier Dash 8 service ceased, and Republic Airways began serving Hilton Head Airport with the E175 regional jet. This marked the first commercially scheduled jet service to the airport.[8]

In the past the airport was served by the following air carriers operating scheduled passenger flights:

Facilities

Hilton Head Island Airport covers 180 acres (53 ha) at an elevation of 19 feet (6 m). Its one runway, 3/21, is 5,000 by 100 feet (1,524 x 30 m).[10] The runway was extended from 4,300 feet to 5,000 feet in the summer of 2018.[11][12] The FAA had recommended the runway be extended to 5,300 feet but public opinion on Hilton Head Island necessitated a smaller extension.[13] In October 2010, the airport adopted a master plan that called for a 5,400 feet extension.[13] However, that did not come to fruition.[12]

Other safety improvements to the airport have been completed since 2018, including the relocation of Taxiway A by 100 feet, added airfield drainage components, removal of trees in the flight path and the revision of the general aviation parking area.

The current terminal building was built in 1995. At 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2), it has four airline gates. In 2023, the airport began construction on a terminal improvement project. The project includes a new TSA checkpoint, new boarding areas, and the addition of three jet bridges.[14] The new terminal opened on May 1, 2026.[15]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
American Eagle Charlotte[16][17]
Seasonal: Boston,[16] Chicago–O'Hare,[16] Philadelphia,[16] Washington–National[16]
Delta Connection Seasonal: Atlanta,[16] New York–LaGuardia[16]
United Express Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare,[16][18] Newark[16][18]

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from HHH (August 2025 – July 2026)[2]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Charlotte, North Carolina 67,900 American
2 Washington–Reagan, Virginia 14,400 American
3 Atlanta, Georgia 11,860 Delta
4 Newark, New Jersey 9,910 United
5 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 9,870 American, United
6 New York-LaGuardia, New York 8,150 Delta
7 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1,950 American
8 Boston, Massachusetts 550 American

Annual traffic

Annual passenger traffic
(2003 – 2020)[2]
Year Passengers Year Passengers
2020146,0002010151,000
2019221,0002009136,000
201875,6202008161,000
201756,3302007172,000
201664,7002006126,000
201579,0002005135,000
2014112,0002004128,000
2013117,0002003123,000
2012122,0002002
2011123,0002001
Airline market share (August 2025 – July 2026)[2]
Rank Airline Passengers Market share
1 Envoy 153,000 60.50%
2 Republic 99,830 39.50%

See also

References

  1. "FAA Airport Form 5010 for HXD" (PDF). FAA. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  2. "RITA - BTS - Transtats". bts.gov. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  3. "Hilton Head Island Airport". Beaufort County. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  4. "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  5. "IATA Airport Code Search (HHH: Hilton Head)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  6. "KHXD – Airport". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  7. "Hilton Head Island Airport Master Plan Update" (PDF). 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  8. Wilson, Lisa (April 12, 2018). "Hilton Head Island airport upgrades attracting larger planes to the runway". Island Packet. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  9. "To Hilton Head Island". www.departedflights.com.
  10. "Hilton Head Airport FAA Information Effective 09 July 2026". Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  11. "Runway Improvements at Hilton Head Airport Enhance Safety, Service Options & Stormwater Management | Airport Improvement Magazine". airportimprovement.com. June 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  12. Mayle, Mary Carr (March 15, 2017). "Hilton Head airport to expand runway". Savannah Morning News.
  13. "Hilton Head airport runway extension to be completed in June". Island Packet. May 10, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  14. "HHH is growing to better serve you". www.hiltonheadairport.com. September 29, 2023. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  15. Khan, Li (April 30, 2026). "Comfy seats & beer on tap: What will new Hilton Head airport terminal offer?". Island Packet. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  16. Miller, Anna Claire (August 19, 2025). "Planning a trip to Hilton Head soon? These airlines have direct flights". The Island Packet.
  17. "Hilton Head Island airport upgrades attracting larger planes to the runway". The Island Packet. April 12, 2018.
  18. Mutzabaugh, Ben. "United Airlines grows at hubs; new routes from NYC, D.C. and California". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 29, 2025.