Sarasota, Florida: Airport Accessibility And Convenience

Sarasota in Florida does indeed have an airport. The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is located within three jurisdictions: Sarasota County, the city limits of Sarasota, and Manatee County. It is a medium-sized airport, primarily serving business and general aviation, with a modest air taxi/air carrier operation. The airport is located just north of downtown Sarasota and offers a convenient gateway for international business and GA flights. With over 60 nonstop destinations and 11 airlines, SRQ provides travellers with a stress-free and efficient travel experience.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport's history

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (IATA: SRQ, ICAO: KSRQ, FAA LID: SRQ) is a public international airport located in Sarasota County, Sarasota, and Manatee County, Florida. The airport is owned by the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority and is 3 miles north of Downtown Sarasota and 6 miles south of Bradenton.

History

Before the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport was built, both Sarasota and Bradenton had their own airfields: Bradenton Airport and Sarasota's Lowe Field. Bradenton Airport was established between 1935 and 1937 and was abandoned during World War 2. Lowe Field was dedicated on January 12, 1929, and opened on March 12. It was Sarasota's first municipal airport, located on 160 acres of land west of Oriente Avenue (now Beneva Road) and north of Fruitville Road. National Airlines began flying out of the airfield on August 4, 1937, but left later that year due to the landing strip's proneness to flooding. During World War II, Lowe Field was used by the Civil Air Patrol.

The Sarasota-Bradenton Airport was constructed as a replacement for Lowe Field due to its poor conditions and low capacity. Construction began in 1939 and was completed in 1940 with assistance from the CCC and WPA at a cost of $1 million. In May 1941, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority was created.

In 1942, as the United States entered World War 2, the airport was leased to the Army Air Corps and became the Sarasota Army Airfield. The Army Air Corps added 250 acres to the airport, bringing it to a total of 870 acres. The airfield was used for training, construction, and maintenance by the 97th and 92nd Bombardment Groups. In June, the base was designated a sub-base and changed its focus to fighters due to the runways being unable to withstand the weight of bombers. The 69th Fighter Squadron transferred to the airfield from Drew Army Airfield.

After three years of use, the base closed in 1945 and was transferred to civilian usage in 1947. However, the airport and its facilities deteriorated until the Florida Legislature passed the 1955 Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Act, which gave the airport more legal power and guidelines to operate.

In 1956, the airport's name was changed to Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport. Construction of a terminal building began in 1958 and was completed in 1959. The airport's first jet flights were Eastern 727s in the winter of 1964-65. By the 1960s, the airport had gained two additional commercial airlines: Executive and Florida Air.

In the 1970s, the airport continued to grow, with five commercial airlines operating by 1970: Eastern, National, Executive, Florida, and Mackey. However, many airline services were intermittent, and Mackey left in early 1970, followed by Florida in 1971. Florida returned in 1975 and established Sarasota as its headquarters. Shawnee Airlines replaced Executive Airlines after its bankruptcy in 1971 but left in 1977, allowing Executive to return.

In 1976, the airport received visits from several candidates during the presidential election, including Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Henry "Scoop" Jackson, and George Wallace.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a controversial proposal to move the airport due to overcrowding. However, the idea was struck down in a 1970 opinion poll and a 1986 referendum. Instead, the airport's facilities were expanded, with construction of a new terminal building beginning in 1987. The new terminal opened on October 29, 1989, and the rest of the project was completed by 1990.

In 1992, the airport was designated as a port of entry.

On September 11, 2001, Air Force One was at the airport when George W. Bush was informed of the terrorist attacks. Bush made a statement about the attacks at the airport before departing to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

In the late 2010s, the airport began to rapidly grow in passenger traffic, largely due to Allegiant beginning to service the airport. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport was one of the fastest-growing in the United States. In 2023, the airport broke ground on a second concourse to accommodate its recent growth.

Airlines that fly from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is served by a variety of airlines, offering flights to destinations across the United States. Here is a list of some of the airlines that operate from the airport:

• Allegiant Air: This airline offers an extensive network of flights from SRQ, including new routes to Albany, Elmira, Greenville, Knoxville, Lexington, Moline, Omaha, and Roanoke. They also provide service to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with one-way fares as low as $48.
• Breeze Airways: Breeze Airways has recently expanded its services from SRQ, now offering nonstop flights to Portland, Akron, Long Island, Raleigh, and Richmond. They also provide service to Westchester County, New York.
• Avelo Airlines: Avelo Airlines offers flights to Philadelphia and has recently expanded its services with a new route to Wilmington, Delaware.
• American Airlines: American Airlines provides daily nonstop service to New York City (LGA) and has a strong presence at SRQ, with Charlotte and Dallas/Fort Worth as popular destinations.
• Delta Air Lines: Delta offers a range of flights from SRQ, with connections to Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York LaGuardia.
• United Airlines: United provides convenient options for travellers, with flights to Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles, and other destinations.
• Southwest Airlines: Southwest serves SRQ with flights to Baltimore, Chicago Midway, and other locations. They are known for their low-fare offerings and convenient scheduling.
• Frontier Airlines: Frontier Airlines has announced new services from SRQ, including nonstop flights to Cincinnati.
• JetBlue: JetBlue provides flights to various destinations, including Boston and New York.
• Sun Country Airlines: Sun Country offers seasonal flights to Minneapolis and other locations.

These airlines make Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport a convenient gateway to Florida and beyond, providing a range of options for travellers.

The airport's facilities and amenities

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is a full-service airport with a range of facilities and amenities for travellers. The airport is designed to be spacious and convenient, with airline ticketing, baggage claim, and other services located near the main concourse. The parking lots are adjacent to the main terminal, and check-in lines are short.

SRQ offers short and long-term parking, special needs services, car rentals, and ground transportation options. The airport also provides dining, shopping, luggage carts, complimentary WiFi, animal relief areas, ATMs, and massage chairs.

The airport has a wide range of airline carriers, including Air Canada, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Avelo, Breeze, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines. Car rental services include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty Car Rental.

SRQ also has a variety of dining and shopping options available for travellers. The specific restaurants and shops can be found on the airport's website.

The airport's location and transport links

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (IATA: SRQ, ICAO: KSRQ, FAA LID: SRQ) is located within three jurisdictions: Sarasota County, the city limits of Sarasota, and Manatee County, all in the U.S. state of Florida. It is situated 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Downtown Sarasota and 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Bradenton. The airport is conveniently positioned on the Manatee/Saratoga County line, just four miles north of Sarasota's downtown area.

The airport is easily accessible by road, with its address listed as 6000 or 6016 Airport Circle, Sarasota, FL, 34243. It is also a short distance from the larger Tampa International Airport, located around 30 miles north.

SRQ is served by a range of car rental companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty Car Rental, which all have on-site operations. Additionally, buses, taxis, limos, and ride-sharing app services are available for drop-off and pick-up.

The airport's spacious terminal is designed for traveller convenience, with short and long-term parking lots adjacent to the main building. Airline ticketing, baggage claim, and other services are located just steps away from the main concourse, making navigation a breeze.

SRQ's efficient layout ensures shorter check-in lines compared to larger airports, and its size allows for more straightforward take-off and landing procedures without the hassle of long queues.

The airport's future expansion plans

Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport has been undergoing a series of expansion projects in recent years to accommodate its growing number of passengers. In March 2023, the airport broke ground on a new concourse, now known as Concourse A, which is expected to be completed by December 2024. This new concourse will add five gates to the terminal, with budget airline Allegiant Air basing its SRQ operations there. The construction of Concourse A will also include improvements to concessions, with some local restaurants providing service in this area.

Further down the line, the construction of Concourse C could be a possibility, adding seven more passenger gates to the west side of the terminal. To facilitate this expansion, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority approved a land swap with New College in March 2024. This agreement will protect the airport's entry from General Spaatz Boulevard off Tamiami Trail and provide a buffer for the proposed Concourse C.

Additionally, the airport could address its parking problem by adding a parking garage in the future. For now, it has added park-and-ride facilities and a cellphone lot to manage the increase in passengers.

Frequently asked questions