Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is beginning a major runway renovation that will close the airport for two full weekends in September.
The work involves repaving 6,500 feet of runway and the full 11,001 feet of runway shoulder. GSP began planning for construction in October 2025. It has been 17 years since Runway 4/22 was paved and 30 years since work was done on the shoulder. The construction team chose September for the paving work due to favorable weather and lower passenger counts.
The weekend closures are Sept. 11-14 and Sept. 18-21. The airport will also be closed overnight most nights from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. from July 27 through Nov. 12.
GSP has been working with airlines to accommodate the closures. Other regional airports are also aware of the renovations and will be flying as normal. Tom Tyra, chief marketing and communications officer for GSP, encouraged travelers to be flexible with their plans.
“The last scheduled departures before each (weekend) closure will be around 8 p.m. on Friday, and flight arrivals and departures will resume beginning at approximately 8 a.m. on Monday,” Tyra said. “If travelers have flexibility, leaving before 8 p.m. on Friday and arriving back at GSP after 8 a.m. on Monday will allow them to avoid interruptions in service.”
The project will cost approximately $27.7 million. Of that amount, $25 million is from a federal appropriation grant. The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District is covering the remaining $2.7 million using revenue generated by airport operations. GSP is financially self-sustaining and, aside from grants provided for some construction projects, the airport does not receive general tax revenue for operational costs.
Other renovations
GSP recently started work on two other improvement projects.
The Terminal Glass Replacement Project began in June. The project will cost $10 million and replace the windows in the terminal with smart glass that darkens under direct sunlight. This is expected to keep the terminal cooler and prevent the walls and carpet from fading. The project should be completed in October.
The Airport Microgrid Project also began in June. The $27.5 million solar energy project will provide “the ability to generate our own power and store up to 4 megawatts of additional backup power,” according to the GSP website. The project completion date is fall 2027.
For additional information about any of the projects, call GSP’s information desk at 864-877-7426, text 864-485-8885, or visit gspairport.com/trip.
GSP runway updates
The runway work at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is planned in three phases:
- Phase 1 — Overnight closures from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. starting July 27 and running through Sept. 4.
- Phase 2 — Two full runway and airport closures lasting about 60 hours on Sept. 11-14 and Sept. 18-21.
- Phase 3 — Overnight closures for remaining work starting Sept. 14 and running through Nov. 12, lasting nightly from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
