NEW YORK: The Savannah Airport Commission instructed staff to begin looking into the possibility of building a US Customs Federal Inspection Services or FIS site at the airport for international flights, cargo and agricultural products.
The move came after Canada’s Porter Airlines, which the Savannah airport had been courting for some time, announced late last year it would begin seasonal nonstop service from Toronto to Charleston, S.C., a route Savannah was hoping to snag.
“Porter made this decision very quickly, and I think the determining factor was that Charleston already has an FIS on site,” said Greg Kelly, airport executive director.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport had an FIS in the early 1990s, when Key Airlines used Savannah as a hub for flights to the Caribbean and Mexico as well as domestic destinations. But the FIS was located in the old terminal building and, when Key ceased operations in May of 1993, that space was turned into offices.
Today, with the airport looking to attract international flights and cargo, Kelly asked his board if building an FIS was something the staff should explore. Commissioners unanimously agreed.
“I definitely think we need to start moving down that road,” Commissioner Sheldon Tenenbaum said.
Commissioner Lois Wooten agreed, reminding the group of Georgia’s growing exports of blueberries and other agricultural commodities.
