Airports don’t just move people; they move regions. We sat down with FLO’s director, Brad Beadles, to map a bold, practical plan to turn Florence’s 1,500+ acres into a true regional gateway—one that adds the right routes, taps rail-to-runway cargo, and builds a homegrown talent pipeline. The story starts with hard truths: when Delta left, traffic fell, habits shifted to Charlotte, and airlines saw 55% load factors instead of the 80% they need to invest. The fix is local and doable—get business travelers booking FLO again, close the price gap with smarter schedules, and secure high-utility links like Dulles and Nashville that unlock global networks without the mega-hub grind.
We explore how Florence’s infrastructure advantages stack up: proximity to I-95 and I-20, access to the Port of Charleston and Inland Port Dillon, and an airport-owned rail spur that can be revived for a modest cost. That intermodal mix is catnip for shippers and advanced manufacturers, setting the stage for sustainable airport revenue and jobs. Add a user fee facility for Customs and Border Protection, and private aviation and on-demand charters become easier—including weekend hops to the Bahamas—keeping high-value activity based in Florence rather than leaking to Charleston.
Growth takes people, so we spotlight Runway 1000, a program that brings a thousand middle schoolers to the airfield each year, and a high school pathway with pilot, maintenance, drones, and air traffic control tracks tied to Embry-Riddle. Students can graduate with an associate degree and a guaranteed path to a four-year program if they keep their grades up. Alongside a refreshed FLO brand and a traveler-first website that surfaces hotels, restaurants, and local events, the airport is making it simpler to choose convenience over chaos.
There is urgency: American plans to reduce to two daily flights in 2026 unless loads rise. That’s also the opportunity. If we fill the seats now, we earn the second carrier faster, attract cargo investment, and shift the trajectory of the PD. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who flies often, and if you can, book your next trip out of FLO. Then tell us: which nonstop would you choose first?