Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is expanding its direct flight network with two new routes that add nonstop connectivity to Columbus, Ohio, and Nashville, Tennessee — destinations that fill meaningful gaps in the airport’s existing service map and add convenience for Upstate South Carolina travelers and business visitors.
Breeze Airways is launching a new nonstop service between GSP and Columbus John Glenn International Airport, connecting the Upstate directly to Ohio’s capital city and the broader Columbus metro area — one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing markets. Contour Airlines is adding a nonstop route from GSP to Nashville International Airport, linking Spartanburg and Greenville travelers to Music City without a connection through Charlotte or Atlanta.
The additions come as GSP continues to build on its recognition as Best Small Airport in North America for 2025, a designation that reflects the airport’s consistent investment in passenger experience, airline partnerships, and route development. (GSP Airport press releases)
The Columbus Route
Breeze Airways has established itself as one of the most aggressive route developers among U.S. carriers since its launch, focusing specifically on secondary market connections that major carriers have left underserved. The Columbus route fits that profile precisely: Columbus is a significant business and leisure destination without a direct service option from the Upstate, forcing travelers to connect through larger hubs and adding hours to what should be a relatively short journey.
For Spartanburg-area travelers, the Columbus route opens direct access to Ohio State University’s research and academic ecosystem, the Columbus business community, and the broader Midwest market. It also provides a path for Columbus-based visitors to reach the Upstate — relevant given the frequency of athletic, academic, and corporate connections between the two regions.
The Nashville Route
Contour Airlines’ Nashville service addresses one of the most frequently requested missing connections from GSP. Nashville has evolved from a country music destination into one of the South’s premier business and entertainment hubs, with a tech and healthcare industry ecosystem that creates consistent business travel demand. The direct connection eliminates the Charlotte Douglas or Atlanta Hartsfield layover that currently characterizes most Upstate-to-Nashville trips.
Nashville is also a natural leisure destination for Spartanburg-area residents, and the nonstop option makes a long weekend in Music City genuinely feasible without the time penalty of a connection. For Nashville visitors seeking Upstate hospitality — BMW tours, Spartanburg’s restaurant scene, Blue Ridge foothills access — the direct connection works in both directions.
GSP’s Growing Network
The two new routes add to a network that has been expanding steadily at GSP, which serves as the commercial aviation hub for Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, and a broad multistate catchment area in the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. The airport’s Best Small Airport in North America recognition for 2025 reinforced GSP’s competitive position in attracting new airline service.
GSP is accessible from downtown Spartanburg via Interstate 85 North — approximately 20 to 25 minutes from most of the city depending on traffic. Parking rates at GSP have remained competitive with regional airport alternatives, and the passenger experience from check-in through gates has been consistently rated as a significant advantage over the congested major hub alternatives.
What’s Happening: Q&A
Q: What new routes are coming to GSP?
Breeze Airways is adding nonstop service from GSP to Columbus, Ohio, and Contour Airlines is adding nonstop service from GSP to Nashville, Tennessee.
Q: Who is Breeze Airways?
Breeze Airways is a U.S. carrier that launched in 2021 with a focus on connecting secondary markets that major carriers have left underserved. The Columbus route fits its model of filling connectivity gaps.
Q: Why does a Nashville nonstop matter?
Nashville is one of the South’s fastest-growing business and entertainment hubs. Previously, most Upstate-to-Nashville trips required a connection through Charlotte or Atlanta, adding hours to the journey.
Q: How far is GSP from downtown Spartanburg?
GSP is approximately 20 to 25 minutes from downtown Spartanburg via Interstate 85 North.
Q: What recognition has GSP received recently?
GSP was named Best Small Airport in North America for 2025, reflecting its passenger experience, airline partnerships, and ongoing route development.
