New ticket counters open at Charleston International Airport

NORTH CHARLESTON (WCSC) - With a little more than a week away from Christmas, airports around the country are getting busier by the minute.

If you're heading to the Charleston International Airport, you can expect to see some changes to help make your holiday travel a breeze.

On Wednesday, the first of the renovated airline ticket counters opened, bringing a modern look and replacing the more-than-20-year-old original counters.

The change marked a milestone for JetBlue and United Airlines, which became the first airlines to move to the new workspaces.

They are part of an ongoing $189 million dollar terminal construction project that will eventually expand the the number of airline gates from 10 to 15, and introduce an upgraded baggage handling system and consolidate security screening checkpoints. The airport also plans to upgrade airline check-in stations and welcome a variety of retail stores, pubs and restaurants.

The renovation project is expected to wrap up in the fall of 2015.

The airport's new Rental Car Pavilion opened in the spring, along with three new luggage carousels in baggage claim.

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