St Petersburg's Airport: An Essential Travel Guide

St. Petersburg, Florida, is served by St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Tampa International Airport (TPA). St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is located 9 miles (14 km) north of downtown St. Petersburg, while Tampa International Airport is 10 miles (16 km) east of it. St. Pete-Clearwater is a smaller airport, catering mostly to low-cost carriers and private planes, while Tampa International is much larger and sees most of the airline traffic in the Tampa Bay Area.

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (IATA: PIE)

The history of St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport dates back to the early days of commercial aviation. In 1914, just over a decade after the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk, the first tickets for airline travel were sold by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line to fare-paying passengers. The inaugural flight, using a Benoist XIV amphibious aircraft, took place from a location near the downtown St. Petersburg Pier, marking the beginning of commercial air transportation worldwide.

Today, St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport offers non-stop flights to over 60 destinations, primarily served by the low-cost carrier Allegiant Air. The airport has two asphalt runways, with the longest being 9,730 feet (2,966 meters) in length. It covers an area of 1,900 acres (769 hectares) and has a variety of services and amenities for passengers, including restaurants, bars, free Wi-Fi, nursing rooms, pet relief areas, and play zones for children.

The airport is also home to the Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, the largest and busiest U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in the country. Additionally, the U.S. Army Reserve maintains an Army Aviation Support Facility at the airport. St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport is committed to enhancing its services and has a $110 million Terminal Improvement Project planned for late 2025, which will include the addition of gates, passenger-loading bridges, and other facilities.

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

TPA served more than 24 million passengers in 2023 and is undergoing a three-phase construction program to accommodate its growing number of passengers. The program includes expanding the Main Terminal, adding a rental car facility, and introducing a SkyConnect train system. The airport also broke ground on Airside D in late 2024, a 16-gate international and domestic terminal set to open in 2028.

TPA is served by most major airlines and offers more than 100 non-stop flights, depending on the season. There are approximately 250 daily departures by 24 airlines and flights to 20 international destinations. The airport is also home to various shops, restaurants, kiosks, and bars showcasing local brands.

The airport provides convenient access to the beaches of St. Pete-Clearwater and the theme parks in Orlando. It offers pre-booking options for parking spaces during busy travel periods, and passengers can choose from economy, long-term, or short-term parking. TPA also has a variety of services and amenities, including information kiosks, accessibility services, currency exchange, nursing rooms, and a nondenominational chapel.

Albert Whitted Airport

While there are no commercial airline services at Albert Whitted Airport, it is recognised as the birthplace of scheduled commercial airline flight. On January 1, 1914, a Benoist XIV flying boat piloted by Tony Jannus took off from the central yacht basin of the downtown waterfront, marking the first scheduled commercial aircraft flight in history.

The airport has also received recognition for its economic impact on the city. In its 2012 budget, the City of St. Petersburg listed the airport as one of the city operations that are self-supporting. Additionally, estimates from the 2005 Airport Master Plan commissioned by the city placed the total economic impact at $33,152,000 in direct purchases of goods and services, $12,025,880 in payroll, and 362 people in employment.

Clearwater Airpark Airport

The airport has a 2,114-square-foot general aviation terminal building. There is also a maintenance facility/hangar, 70 T-hangars, 30 covered "shade" hangars, and two corporate hangars. Clearwater Airpark is served by one full-service fixed-base operator, FlyUSA Inc., which provides services such as fuel, aircraft sales, flight instruction, aerial sightseeing, and aerial photography.

The airport is the highest in Pinellas County, at 71 feet above sea level. It is estimated to handle about 50,000 operations annually, with approximately 125 aircraft based there.

The airport was established in 1954 through an agreement between Clearwater, Florida, and the Clearwater Flying Company, Inc. It has been owned and operated by the city since 1980.

St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater Airport Shuttle

St. Petersburg, Florida, is served by two airports: St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Tampa International Airport (TPA). St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is located right in the heart of Tampa Bay and is a quick drive away from Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Clearwater.

The St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater hotel offers an airport shuttle service to and from the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. The hotel recommends that guests contact them directly to arrange a pick-up.

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is also served by SuperShuttle, which provides ground transportation to and from the airport. SuperShuttle offers shared rides and non-stop shuttles, with carefully planned routes and pickup times that take traffic into account.

Other hotels in the area that offer airport shuttle services to the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport include the Courtyard by Marriott St. Petersburg Clearwater, the Holiday Inn St. Petersburg North/Clearwater, and the Holiday Inn Express Clearwater East ICOT Center.

Frequently asked questions