GSP launches three new nonstop flights

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The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport announced three nonstop flights to Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla., at a press conference Tuesday.

Silver Airways, a regional airline operating across Florida and the Caribbean, will launch the 46 and 70-seat flights, as well as same-plane direct service through Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale, according to a news release.

“Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport continues to pursue opportunities that enhance air service access for the Upstate region,” Dave Edwards, president and CEO of GSP, said in the release. “We are pleased to welcome Silver Airways to our family of airlines and we look forward to growing together in the years to come.”

The company is also a codeshare partner with United, JetBlue, American, Delta, Avianca and Copa airlines and serves as the North American launch partner for the new ATR-600 series aircraft.

Flights to Orlando and Tampa will operate twice every week on Thursdays and Sundays, while flights to Jacksonville will be on Mondays and Fridays beginning on March 18. Tickets are available now, and United MileagePlus and JetBlue loyalty program members can earn frequent flyer awards, according to the release.

“Military, leisure and business travelers from Florida and throughout the world will soon be able to marvel at the hospitality, history, attractions and nightlife of Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and surrounding communities,” Silver Airways CEO Steve Rossum said in the news release. “We are very excited.”

While passenger numbers for 2020 were down year over year by 59.2% at almost 1.1 million, November proved to be the best month on record since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down air travel in March, according to GSP data. During the month, 87,076 passengers boarded and deplaned — a 61.1% loss from November 2019. December saw a 61.4% dip year-over-year at almost 86,000 passengers.

Pre-pandemic passengers reached 182,882 last February.