Marathon Key's Airport: What's The Deal?

Marathon is a city in the Florida Keys, a string of islands stretching off the southern tip of Florida. Marathon has its own airport, the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, which was opened in 1943. The airport was originally built by the US Navy as an auxiliary airfield for Naval Air Station Key West during World War II. After the war, the airport was transferred to Monroe County to be used as a civilian airport. The airport has mostly been a general aviation facility, but it did have scheduled passenger airline service for over 25 years, including regional jet service for a brief period in 2007.

Marathon Airport was built by the US Navy in 1943

Marathon Airport, officially known as the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, was indeed built by the US Navy in 1943. The airport was constructed during the early days of World War II as an auxiliary airfield for Naval Air Station Key West. The project was started in the fall of 1942 and completed in the spring of 1943.

The airport was a portion of the US Navy flight programs, and it served as a Navy Outlying Field (OLF) and an auxiliary airfield for the Naval Air Station in Key West. It was used by the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 26th Antisubmarine Wing, which was transferred to the US Navy in 1943. The construction of the airport involved dredging and moving fill dirt, transforming a 280-acre parcel of mangroves and scrub into an airfield.

After World War II ended, the Marathon Airport was deactivated as a military facility and transferred to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners for use as a civilian airport. The county operated the airport as a general aviation facility, and it continued to serve this purpose for most of its existence. Over the years, various commuter airlines have served Marathon Airport, offering limited passenger services and flights to and from destinations such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, American Air Taxi (AAT Airlines) operated small Cessna twin-prop aircraft with limited passenger service to Marathon. During the same period, Southeast Airlines provided daily flights to and from Miami as part of a Miami-Marathon-Key West route. Other airlines that have served Marathon Airport include Air Sunshine, Air Florida Commuter, Provincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA), and Air Miami.

In recent years, Marathon Airport faced challenges with TSA screening issues and the withdrawal of services by Delta and Continental Airlines due to low demand. However, the airport continues to serve the Florida Keys Marathon region, providing essential aviation services and connections to travellers and locals alike.

The airport has been mostly a general aviation facility

Marathon Key, or the Florida Keys Marathon Airport, does have an airport. The airport was constructed during World War II, from 1942 to 1943, by the U.S. Navy as an auxiliary airfield for Naval Air Station Key West. It was deactivated as a military facility at the end of the war and transferred to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners for use as a civilian airport.

For most of its existence, the airport has been a general aviation facility. This means that it primarily serves private and recreational pilots, rather than commercial airlines. General aviation facilities typically offer services such as refueling, aircraft parking, and flight planning. The Florida Keys Marathon Airport is no exception, offering a range of services tailored to general aviation, including refueling (Jet A and 100LL), plane-side valet services, full-service concierge, overnight and long-term aircraft parking, and flight planning.

While the airport has primarily served general aviation, it has also had periods of operating as a commercial airport. For example, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, commuter air carrier American Air Taxi (AAT Airlines) operated a limited passenger service into Marathon with small Cessna twin-prop aircraft. Additionally, in the 1970s and early 1980s, Air Florida Commuter provided service to Marathon and Key West via a code-sharing agreement.

In recent years, there have been efforts to establish more scheduled passenger airline service at the airport. In 2007, Delta began offering regional jet service between Atlanta and Marathon, marking the first time the airport had scheduled jet service. However, this service was short-lived, ending in the same year due to low demand. Despite this setback, the airport continues to serve general aviation while exploring options for additional commercial service.

Delta operated the first scheduled jet service to Marathon in 2007

Marathon, Florida, is served by the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, which was opened in 1943. The airport was constructed during World War II as an auxiliary airfield for Naval Air Station Key West.

For most of its existence, the airport has been a general aviation facility. However, it did have scheduled passenger airline service for over 25 years, including regional jet service for a short time in 2007.

In 2006, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) notified airport officials that due to a shortage of personnel, TSA would not be able to staff the airport with federal security screeners. This posed a challenge to passenger boarding and disembarkation, as they would have to use the general aviation ramp area instead of the airport's passenger terminal. Despite this setback, Delta Air Lines announced its plans to introduce nonstop regional jet service between Atlanta and Marathon, operated by its regional subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) on a code-sharing basis.

On February 15, 2007, Delta, through ASA, commenced daily scheduled nonstop flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Florida Keys Marathon Airport. This marked the first time the Marathon Airport had scheduled jet service. The service was operated using comfortable, quiet 40-seat Bombardier regional jets.

However, in late spring of 2007, Delta ended the regional jet service operated by ASA and switched to Freedom Airlines for its regional jet flights between Atlanta and Marathon. This change was made due to Marathon's short runway length, as Freedom Airlines' Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet aircraft offered better short-field performance compared to ASA's Canadair regional jets. Unfortunately, in mid-summer 2007, Delta announced the end of its service to Marathon Airport due to low demand.

The airport has free parking and rental car services

The Florida Keys Marathon International Airport does indeed have an airport, which was constructed during World War II in 1943. The airport was built by the U.S. Navy as an auxiliary airfield for Naval Air Station Key West.

Florida Keys Marathon International Airport offers free parking for visitors. This is convenient for those who plan to leave their cars at the airport while travelling, or for those picking up or dropping off passengers. In addition to free parking, the airport also provides onsite rental car services for those who need a vehicle during their stay. Rental car companies located within the terminal include Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. Each company provides contact phone numbers and hours of operation to assist customers in renting a car upon arrival.

The airport also offers a range of other services, including plane-side valet, full-service concierge, catering, a crew lounge with showers, and complimentary refreshments. For those who require ground transportation, taxi and bus services are also available at the airport. Key Hopper Taxi Service and Greyhound Lines are two options for travellers who prefer not to rent a car.

Overall, the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is well-equipped to handle the needs of travellers with its free parking and convenient rental car, taxi, and bus services. These options ensure that visitors can easily access their desired destinations upon arrival at the airport.

The airport's runway length is 5,000 feet (1,500 m)

The Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, also known as the Florida Keys Marathon Airport, was first opened in 1943. It was constructed by the U.S. Navy as an auxiliary airfield for Naval Air Station Key West during World War II. The airport has a runway length of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), which is considered comparatively short for jet aircraft.

Due to the shorter runway, airlines must take this into account when selecting aircraft for flights serving this airport. For example, when Delta operated regional jet service to Marathon Airport, they used Freedom Airlines' Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets. These aircraft have better short-field performance compared to other options, making them more suitable for the shorter runway.

Prior to Delta's service, American Air Taxi (AAT Airlines) operated a limited passenger service to Marathon Airport using small Cessna twin-prop aircraft during the late 1960s and early 1970s. During the same period, Southeast Airlines served the airport with flights to and from Miami, utilising Martin 4-0-4 prop aircraft and a Fairchild F-27 turboprop.

The airport offers various services, including refueling, plane-side valet, full-service concierge, onsite rental cars, overnight and long-term aircraft parking, catering, a crew lounge, and more. It also provides free parking for passengers and convenient access to car rental, taxi, and bus services.

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