Discover the Airlines at Charleston Airport

Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the main commercial airport serving Charleston and South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Located about 12 miles northwest of downtown Charleston in North Charleston, CHS has one passenger terminal with Concourses A and B. It supports major network airlines, low-cost carriers, regional leisure airlines, and seasonal international service.

CHS is South Carolina’s busiest passenger airport. Airport operating statistics show that it handled approximately 6.34 million arriving and departing passengers in 2025. The airport also shares its airfield with Joint Base Charleston and has two intersecting runways.

Charleston International Airport handled approximately 6.34 million passengers in 2025, making “more than 4 million passengers” an outdated description of the airport’s current size.

Airlines Flying From Charleston Airport

The following table summarizes the airlines shown on the airport’s official airlines and nonstop destinations page. It lists representative nonstop markets rather than every flight on every date.

American Airlines

American Airlines provides a strong selection of daily flights from Charleston to several major connecting hubs. Current listed destinations include Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia, and Washington Reagan National Airport. LaGuardia service may operate seasonally.

American’s short flight to Charlotte can provide access to a large connecting network, while Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia, and Chicago offer additional connection choices.

American does not currently list a nonstop international destination from CHS. However, travelers can connect through its hubs to cities in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and other regions.

Onboard features depend on the aircraft and route. Travelers can review American’s current in-flight entertainment information before departure. AAdvantage members may earn miles and loyalty points on eligible travel.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines serves Charleston but does not operate a hub at CHS. Its most important connecting route is Atlanta, where passengers can transfer to a broad domestic and international network.

Delta also lists daily Charleston flights to Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York JFK, and New York LaGuardia. The exact number of departures varies by day and season.

Wi-Fi, seatback entertainment, streaming entertainment, meals, and complimentary snacks depend on the aircraft, cabin, and flight length. Eligible travelers can earn or redeem miles through Delta’s SkyMiles program.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest serves several popular domestic destinations from Charleston. The airport currently lists daily service to Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Dallas Love Field, Denver, and Nashville. Houston Hobby is listed as less-than-daily, while Austin, Kansas City, and St. Louis may operate seasonally.

Southwest no longer uses its former open-seating system. The airline introduced assigned seating for flights departing on or after January 27, 2026. Most fare types allow seat selection under specific conditions, while Basic-fare customers generally receive a standard seat assignment during check-in unless another benefit applies.

Checked bags are also no longer free for every passenger. Fees may apply to Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred fares. Choice Extra passengers and some Rapid Rewards status members or qualifying credit-card customers may receive one or two checked bags without a fee. Review the current Southwest fare benefits before comparing prices.

United Airlines

United Airlines links Charleston with several of its major hubs. Current daily nonstops include Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, Newark, and Washington Dulles.

These routes make United useful for travelers who need connections to the Northeast, Midwest, Mountain West, West Coast, Latin America, Europe, or Asia. The best hub depends on the final destination and the available connection time.

Complimentary snacks, beverages, entertainment, and Wi-Fi availability vary by aircraft and route. Eligible travelers can earn and redeem miles through United MileagePlus.

JetBlue

JetBlue currently lists daily flights from Charleston to Boston and New York JFK, plus less-than-daily service to Fort Lauderdale. This makes the airline especially useful for travelers heading to the Northeast or South Florida.

JetBlue fare products have different rules for seat selection, checked baggage, changes, and cancellations. Travelers should compare the fare bundle rather than assuming every ticket includes the same benefits.

Eligible purchases can earn points through JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program. In-flight features vary, although JetBlue is commonly selected by passengers who value entertainment and a more service-focused economy experience.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines provides daily nonstop service between Charleston and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It is the clearest nonstop option for travelers going directly from Charleston to the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle also provides Alaska passengers with connecting opportunities to other destinations in Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and western Canada. Some itineraries may involve Alaska’s airline partners.

Food, entertainment, Wi-Fi, baggage, and seat-selection policies depend on the fare, aircraft, and route. Alaska Mileage Plan members can earn miles on eligible Alaska and partner flights.

Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways has a large presence at Charleston and focuses on nonstop service between CHS and cities that may otherwise require a connection. Its current route list includes destinations such as Akron-Canton, Albany, Atlantic City, Cancún, Cincinnati, Columbus, Fort Myers, Hartford, Long Island, New Haven, New Orleans, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Providence, Tampa, West Palm Beach, and White Plains.

Several other Breeze destinations operate seasonally, including Burlington, Los Angeles, Louisville, and Richmond. Frequencies are often lower than daily, so travelers should check the days of operation before planning lodging or ground transportation.

Breeze began nonstop Charleston–Cancún service in January 2026. This provides CHS travelers with a listed international leisure route without requiring a connection.

Other Airlines at Charleston Airport

Air Canada

Air Canada lists seasonal nonstop service from Charleston to Toronto Pearson International Airport. Toronto is both a destination and a connection point for other Canadian and international cities. Travelers should verify the operating months because the route is not year-round.

Allegiant

Allegiant lists less-than-daily Charleston service to Cincinnati and seasonal service to Indianapolis. Allegiant uses an optional-fee model, so passengers should include baggage, seat selection, and other add-ons when comparing the final cost.

Avelo Airlines

Avelo lists seasonal service between Charleston and Tweed New Haven Airport. New Haven can be useful for travelers visiting southern Connecticut and nearby parts of the New York metropolitan region.

Sun Country Airlines

Sun Country lists seasonal nonstop service between Charleston and Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Because the route is seasonal, confirm that it operates during the intended travel period.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines has served Charleston and announced Charleston–Dallas/Fort Worth service beginning in October 2025. However, Frontier did not have a destination displayed on the airport’s live nonstop-destination list during this July 2026 review.

This does not necessarily mean Frontier will never operate on a particular date. Airline schedules can be paused, seasonal, or revised with limited notice. Search the exact departure date on the airline’s website and confirm that the flight is nonstop before relying on an older route announcement.

Frontier follows an optional-fee model. A low base fare may not include a checked bag, full-size carry-on bag, preferred seat, or other extras.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines began Charleston service in 2023 and previously announced routes to cities including Fort Lauderdale, Newark, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Fort Myers. These older announcements should not be treated as a current route schedule.

Spirit did not have a destination displayed on CHS’s live nonstop-destination page during this July 2026 review, although Spirit still appears in some airport-service information. Travelers interested in Spirit should search their exact dates directly and confirm both the route and operating frequency.

Spirit’s base fare generally covers transportation and a personal item that meets its size rules. Checked bags, larger carry-on bags, seat selection, and other services may cost extra.

International Flights From Charleston Airport

CHS currently lists two international nonstop markets:

• Toronto, Canada: Seasonal Air Canada service to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
• Cancún, Mexico: Breeze Airways service to Cancún International Airport, with frequency subject to the current schedule.

Charleston does not currently list a nonstop flight to Europe. British Airways previously operated seasonal Charleston–London service but suspended the route in 2020. Travelers heading to Europe normally connect through airports such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Newark, New York JFK, Philadelphia, Washington Dulles, or Toronto.

How to Choose an Airline From CHS

The best airline depends more on the destination and schedule than on the airline’s overall size.

• For a large connecting network through Atlanta: Check Delta.
• For Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, or Philadelphia connections: Check American.
• For Newark, Washington Dulles, Houston, Chicago, or Denver connections: Check United.
• For Seattle and the Pacific Northwest: Check Alaska Airlines.
• For Baltimore, Nashville, Chicago Midway, or Dallas Love Field: Check Southwest.
• For smaller nonstop leisure markets: Check Breeze, Allegiant, Avelo, and Sun Country.
• For Toronto: Check Air Canada’s seasonal schedule.
• For Cancún: Check Breeze’s current operating dates.

A nonstop flight is often worth considering even when its departure time or base fare is not perfect. Avoiding a connection reduces the number of flights that can be delayed and removes the risk of missing a connecting departure.

Charleston Airport Terminal and Check-In

CHS has one main passenger terminal, so travelers do not need to transfer between separate terminal buildings. After security, passengers enter a central area that leads to Concourses A and B. Gate assignments can change, so use the airport monitors or airline app rather than relying on a previous trip.

Ticket counters and baggage services are located before security. Rental-car counters are near the baggage-claim end of the terminal. The airport also provides dining, shopping, free Wi-Fi, service-animal relief areas, nursing facilities, luggage carts, and access to The Club CHS.

Travelers who need wheelchair assistance should arrange it with the airline before departure. The airline, rather than the airport’s general information desk, normally manages assistance during check-in, boarding, and deplaning.

How Early Should You Arrive at CHS?

A practical planning target is to arrive about two hours before a domestic departure and three hours before an international departure. More time may be necessary during holidays, early-morning departure banks, severe weather, or when checking oversized baggage.

Airline check-in and bag-drop cutoffs are separate from the TSA line. A short security wait does not help if the airline has already closed baggage acceptance for the flight.

Before leaving home, check:

• Your airline app for delays, cancellations, gate changes, and check-in status.
• The official CHS flight-status page.
• The CHS security-checkpoint page for estimated wait times.
• Your airline’s baggage cutoff and boarding-door closing time.

Parking at Charleston Airport

CHS provides hourly, daily, economy, overflow, and valet parking. Rates can change, but the official airport page listed the following maximum daily prices during this review:

• Hourly Parking Garage: $21 per day.
• Daily Parking Garage: $17 per day.
• Economy Lot: $13 per day.
• Overflow Lot: $13 per day when open.
• Valet Parking: $25 per day.

The airport provides shuttle service between the terminal and the economy or overflow areas. Parking availability may be limited during holidays and high-demand weekends, so check the official CHS parking page before driving to the airport.

Ground Transportation From CHS

Ground-transportation services are located outside baggage claim near the west end of the terminal. Available choices include:

• Rideshare: Uber, Lyft, and KreweCar pickups use designated sheltered zones across the terminal roadways.
• Taxis: Taxi service is available from the center median outside baggage claim. CHS states that a $17 minimum fare applies.
• CARTA bus service: Public buses connect the airport area with locations including Tanger Outlets and downtown Charleston.
• Rental cars: Rental-car counters are located past baggage claim, with vehicle facilities connected to the parking area.
• Hotel shuttles: Some nearby hotels provide complimentary transportation by prior arrangement.

Pickup locations and transportation providers can change. Review the official CHS ground-transportation guide before arrival.

Conclusion and Tips for Flying From Charleston Airport

Charleston International Airport offers a strong mix of major network airlines and smaller point-to-point carriers. American, Delta, Southwest, United, JetBlue, and Alaska provide many of the airport’s core daily routes. Breeze supplies a large selection of less-than-daily leisure flights, while Air Canada, Allegiant, Avelo, and Sun Country add seasonal or limited service.

Start by searching for a nonstop flight to the final destination. When a connection is required, compare the total travel time, connection airport, baggage rules, seat fees, and schedule reliability rather than selecting the lowest advertised fare automatically.

Check in online, review the airport’s live flight and security information, and confirm parking availability before leaving home. Arriving with enough time for bag drop and security is especially important during holidays and early-morning travel periods.

Travelers preparing for an upcoming flight may also find this guide to softside carry-on luggage with wheels useful when comparing cabin-bag options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What airlines currently fly from Charleston International Airport?

The airport’s current route page lists Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines. Seasonal schedules and airline availability can change.

Which destinations can I fly to nonstop from CHS?

Nonstop destinations include major hubs such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, plus many leisure and regional markets. The exact list changes by season, so consult the official CHS destinations page for your dates.

Which low-cost airlines operate at Charleston Airport?

Southwest, Breeze, Allegiant, Avelo, and Sun Country provide low-cost or leisure-focused options on current CHS listings. Frontier and Spirit have also served Charleston, but travelers should verify whether either airline operates on their exact travel dates.

Does Charleston Airport have international flights?

Yes. Current listings include seasonal Air Canada service to Toronto and Breeze Airways service to Cancún. Frequency and operating months may change.

Are there direct flights from Charleston to Europe?

No nonstop Europe route was listed during this July 2026 review. British Airways previously flew between Charleston and London but suspended the route in 2020. Europe-bound travelers generally connect through a larger hub.

How early should I arrive at Charleston Airport?

Plan to arrive about two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Allow additional time during holidays, bad weather, or when checking baggage, and verify your airline’s check-in cutoff.

Does CHS have more than one terminal?

CHS has one main passenger terminal with Concourses A and B. Travelers clear security in the central terminal area and then follow signs to the assigned concourse and gate.

Sources

1. Charleston International Airport Airlines and Flights — current airlines, destinations, and schedule categories.
2. Charleston International Airport Statistics — annual passenger and operating reports.
3. CHS Security Checkpoint — current and forecast security-wait information.
4. CHS Parking — parking options, availability, and rates.
5. CHS Ground Transportation — rideshare, taxi, bus, shuttle, and rental-car information.
6. Southwest Fare Types and Benefits — current seating and checked-baggage policies.