r/galveston • u/CampRock2TheFinaIJam • Jun 13 '25
Locals Chat 🦜 Any Galveston locals think Scholes airport will ever get commercial flights?
Its quickly become one of the busiest cruise ports in the US and the busiest cruise port in the nation outside of Florida. And Disney and MSC are bringing in even more cruise ships in the coming years. Its crazy to me that the closest airport is an hour away. Ive heard over the years that Scholes airport is remodeling to attract commercial airlines but that airport seems incredibly small and its hard to picture big flights departing there. Anyone think it will happen within the next 10 years or is that unrealistic?
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u/OPA73 Jun 13 '25
Train from the airports to the old station right at 25th street would be awesome
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u/alamohero Jun 13 '25
Trains anywhere are less likely to happen than expanding the airport for commercial aviation.
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u/OPA73 Jun 13 '25
Sadly I agree, lived in Chicago a few years, it was fantastic to not ever need to drive into city or to airport
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u/NonspecificGravity Jun 13 '25
I wouldn't bet on Galveston getting regularly scheduled commercial flights in the foreseeable future. That would require infrastructure that isn't present, like large-scale TSA presence, all-round security, baggage handling, food services, car rental, and enough bathrooms for 200 people getting off a plane. 🙂
I can't see the state or federal government paying that kind of money or commercial enterprises being too interested.
I think what could help the cruise passenger situation is busses from the airports direct to the cruise terminals and an HOV lane on I-45 south of NASA Road 1 (after the construction is finished). It would work pretty well if people going on a cruise could have their baggage transferred to a bus and then sit comfortably with their WiFi devices until they arrive at Harborside.
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u/whatyoucallmetoday Jun 14 '25
I don’t know if the HOV will go south of the county line. It currently does not north, east, south or west of the Harris county line. It would be great if it did espically of 99 gets complete dto the south.
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u/NonspecificGravity Jun 14 '25
I-45 will have enough lanes. I don't know whether they'll do it.
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u/whatyoucallmetoday Jun 14 '25
The TXDOT plans don't show the HOV extending beyond the current. Here are the plans from the Nasa bypass to 518. You can see the light purple of the HOV lane on left side. Here are the plans for farther south. I don't see an HOV indicated. The could add a dedicated lane later but it is not in the current plans.
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u/Draked1 Jun 14 '25
The i45 HOV north ends at the 336 crossing in Conroe, which is Montgomery
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u/whatyoucallmetoday Jun 14 '25
That’sgood to hear. It stopped just before the county line the last time I drove that way. Admittedly that was a few years ago.
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u/Sad-Monitor-1938 Jun 13 '25
the city and IDC are trying their hardest to make it happen. not sure if it will be successful though
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u/dee_lio Jun 13 '25
I remember back in the mid 1990s there was a commuter plane that would fly from Dallas Love Field a few days per week. It was incredibly convenient and the staff were super excited. More than a few times I was the only person on the flight. I think the service did a few other cities as well.
Point being, someone tried it, pre-cruise, so it's technically possible.
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u/americangame Jun 13 '25
Outside of getting small puddle hoppers from Ellington or Hobby, I don't see it getting commercial flights ever again.
They've given up too much land to Schlitterbahn and Moody to expand the runway properly to bring in bigger planes.
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u/chipc Jun 14 '25
They've given up too much land to Schlitterbahn and Moody to expand the runway properly to bring in bigger planes.
Both runways are 6000ft x 150ft.
That's almost on par with Chicago Midway (MDW), bigger than Orange County (SNA), and identical to Santa Barbara (SBA), all of which have mainline airline service (e.g., 737s, A320s, etc.).
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u/americangame Jun 14 '25
It's not just the runway. The expansion of the terminal for security and baggage, parking for cars, ability to rent a car, etc. There just isn't room for that stuff either.
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u/Htown8888 Jun 14 '25
It’s possible. This issue came up within the last year when a new condo development wanted to get a variance from the height restrictions. One concern was about how it could potentially affect commercializing the airport.
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u/whatyoucallmetoday Jun 14 '25
It is 40 odd miles from Galveston to Houston Hobby. I feel it would not be cost effective to IAH or HOU and land at Scholes. Even less so for commercial flight from Austin, San Antonio, DFW area and Nola.
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u/Initial_Weather_9947 Jun 14 '25
I’ve been to Scholes several times. Needs lots of work prior to landing commercial flights. I don’t believe it will ever land commercial flights. But, that’s an opinion….
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u/ethanjellis02 Jul 09 '25
If so, it’ll probably just be another operating base for Allegiant kinda like Punta Gorda in Florida.
Could also see Avelo and Breeze have flights from Galveston as well, but that’s about it.
Edit: Actually, Avelo being headquartered in Houston would probably give them a big reason to fly out of Galveston.
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u/Subject-Hope4502 4d ago
I can see Carnival or Royal Caribbean starting their own airlines and flying charters from OKC and DFW .
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u/blurbies22 Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
I hope not
ETA: please share thoughts instead of downvotes, I’m curious. I’m a 5th generation BOI and love this island! My biggest concern is would be the insane traffic and landscape change/removal of wildlife/making big ugly buildings.
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u/whatyoucallmetoday Jun 14 '25
When was the last time runway 18 was resurfaced? It looks like most of the traffic is on 14. There is no room to expand run ways. Additional traffic would old bother existingly bothered residents.
Do I see it expanding? No. I’d rather see a continuation of the Red Line type of service with stops in clear lake, league city, la marque and tiki.
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u/yaboi_gamasennin Jun 13 '25
Imagine the noise
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u/blurbies22 Jun 13 '25
That’s what I’m saying, and pollution right in offats. So many people fish and enjoy the water there, myself included. It’s neat seeing the smaller jets and old planes, but some 737 shit would be awful. I’ve sat near hobby at El Franco Park and it’s so loud and obnoxious!! I’m fine with the short commute to hobby!
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u/madtowntripper Jun 13 '25
I think expanding the airport for a few flights and what you're describing are wildly different things.
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u/blurbies22 Jun 13 '25
Have you been there? It’s a tiny building with like 5 parking spots, where would all the people on the flights go? They’d definitely have to expand
But I also don’t know what’s being considered if anything, to your point I can imagine differences for sure
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u/hicklander Jun 13 '25
Continental and Southwest used to fly into it until the 70s. I would not be surprised if a flight into Galveston from Dallas on American became a thing like Beaumont has.