Despite lower gas prices some Carolinians are taking advantage of last-minute, discounted air fares.

It was a packed house at Tuesday night’s Horry County Council meeting as residents, business owners, and other concerned citizens crowded in to council chambers to hear votes on a number of hot-button issues—including expansion at Myrtle Beach International Airport.

At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Rick Ott, with MB Kahn construction, a firm hired by council, presented a plan on terminal expansion at the Myrtle Beach international airport.

About a dozen people got the first look at possible plans for terminal expansion at the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

During the Horry County Council meeting Tuesday evening, Council Chair Liz Gilland announced the Myrtle Beach International Airport will lower its landing fees from $1.97 to 50 cents per 1000 pounds of weight. The new program starts September 1.

The lobby area is one-third the appropriate size, seating areas are congested, and people bottle neck in places like baggage, rental car areas, and security.  Those are just some of the problems that need to be corrected at the Myrtle Beach international airport, according to Ott.

The public will have the chance to hear about the terminal enhancement project alternatives during a series of public information meetings starting next week.

The Myrtle Beach International Airport is going to get a face-lift. The discussion over how and when that will happen was the focus of Thursday night’s airport advisory committee meeting.

County and airport officials broke ground today for a new multi-million dollar general aviation terminal.