Fort Myers Airport: Size, Growth, And Future Plans

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW) is a major airport in South Fort Myers, Florida, United States. Covering 13,555 acres of land, it is the third-largest airport in the US in terms of land size. The airport is also the second-busiest single-runway airport in the country, serving 11,028,182 passengers in 2024, the most in its history. Before the opening of the Southwest Florida International Airport, the region was served by Page Field Airport, which is located in Fort Myers and covers 588 acres of land.

Fort Myers Airport's land size

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, FAA LID: RSW) is a major airport in the South Fort Myers area of unincorporated Lee County, Florida. It is the third-largest airport in the United States in terms of land size, covering 13,555 acres (54.9 km2 or 21.2 sq. mi.) of land. To put that into perspective, it is larger than the land area of Manhattan, New York. The airport is about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Fort Myers.

Prior to the opening of Southwest Florida International Airport, the region was served by Page Field (IATA: FMY, ICAO: KFMY, FAA LID: FMY), a public airport located in Fort Myers. Page Field is much smaller in size, covering 588 acres (238 ha) of land, with an elevation of 17 feet (5 m).

The large land area of Southwest Florida International Airport allows for a significant number of facilities and infrastructure. The airport has a single runway (Runway 06/24) that is 12,000 feet (3,658 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide. There is also a planned parallel runway that is currently in the works. The airport has a design capacity of 10 million passengers per year, with 28 gates across three concourses (B, C, and D). The terminal buildings can accommodate up to 65 gates across five concourses (A-E) in the future.

In addition to the terminal and concourses, the airport features a three-story parking structure for short-term parking, an 11,250-space lot for hourly/daily parking, and a 30-space "cell phone lot" for customer pick-up. The airport also has a variety of shops, restaurants, and other concessions that contribute to its high ranking in passenger satisfaction for queue management.

Fort Myers Airport's ranking

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, LID: RSW), also known as Fort Myers Airport, is a major airport in the South Fort Myers area of unincorporated Lee County, Florida. The airport covers 13,555 acres (54.9 km2) of land, making it the third-largest airport in the United States in terms of land size.

In terms of rankings, Fort Myers Airport has received several accolades and recognitions. Here is a list of rankings and awards pertinent to Fort Myers Airport:

• Travel Lens, a digital publication dedicated to travel, ranked Fort Myers Airport as the No. 1 airport in the United States. The ranking was based on a four-category analysis that included wait times, passenger satisfaction levels, Google review ratings, and CO2 emissions. Fort Myers Airport scored an impressive 8.06 out of 10.
• J.D. Power & Associates Airport Satisfaction Study ranked Fort Myers Airport 2nd among North American airports that handle fewer than 10 million annual passengers.
• The Florida Department of Transportation recognised Fort Myers Airport as the 2008 Commercial Airport of the Year.
• Airports Council International-North America awarded Fort Myers Airport several accolades:
• Excellence in Marketing and Communications 2008: 1st Place Special Events for Aviation Day
• 2008: 1st Place for Concession Convenience and 2nd Place for Food Concessions
• 2009: 2nd Place Newsletter – Internal or E-mail and 2nd Place Special Events – Berlin Airlift
• The Federal Aviation Administration presented Fort Myers Airport with the 2009 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Advocate and Partner Award.
• The Florida Airports Council recognised Fort Myers Airport with the 2008 Environmental Excellence Award for its Mitigation Park.
• Airport Revenue News awarded Fort Myers Airport the 2008 Best Concessions Award for its top Concessions Program Design.

In addition to these rankings and awards, Fort Myers Airport has also been praised for its efficient operations, convenient transportation options, and commitment to environmental conservation. The airport served a record-breaking number of passengers in 2022, exceeding 10 million, despite a brief closure due to Hurricane Ian.

Fort Myers Airport's history

Fort Myers has two airports: Page Field Airport and Southwest Florida International Airport. Here is a history of each airport:

Page Field Airport

In 1923, the City of Fort Myers purchased 670 acres of land with the intention of building a golf course. However, in 1926, the site became a civil airport with unpaved sod runways. Daily air mail service commenced, and the airport was nicknamed "Palmetto Field" due to the abundance of palmetto brush in the area. In 1927, National Airlines began making stops at the airport on a St. Petersburg to Miami route, but these were soon discontinued due to poor landing conditions during the rainy season.

In 1939, the airport was deeded to Lee County and became known as Lee County Airport. In 1940, the Works Projects Administration constructed three concrete runways and made other improvements, enabling National Airlines to resume service. By the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the airport had grown to about 600 acres.

During World War II, the airport was leased by the United States Department of War and renamed Fort Myers Army Air Base. It was used by the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and bomber training. After the war, control of the airport returned to Lee County.

On May 21, 1942, the Lee County Commission officially renamed the airport Page Field, in honour of Captain Richard Channing Page, a local World War I aviator and ace. During the war, the Army continued to refer to the airport as Fort Myers Army Air Base.

In the 1950s, National Airlines was the only passenger airline operating at Page Field, with six daily departures. A small terminal was built on the south side of the field, which was expanded in 1960. A larger passenger terminal opened on the north side of the field in November 1975.

By the 1970s, it became apparent that Page Field would be too small to handle the increasing demand for commercial flights to the region. In 1983, the airlines moved to the new Southwest Florida Regional Airport, now called Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Page Field was designated a reliever airport for RSW and now only handles general aviation, military, and business traffic.

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)

Construction of RSW began in 1980 to replace Page Field Airport, which had become too small. The new airport was built on a site near the end of Daniels Parkway, close to the new I-75 interstate. The airport opened on schedule on May 14, 1983, with a single 8,400-foot runway and a passenger terminal with 14 gates. The original terminal was located on the north side of the runway.

Upon opening, the airport was named Southwest Florida Regional Airport, and it began serving international flights in 1984, with Germany becoming a popular destination. In 1993, the airport was officially renamed Southwest Florida International Airport, and the runway was extended to accommodate larger aircraft and better serve international flights.

The airport has continued to expand and improve its facilities over the years, including the addition of new concourses and gates, the construction of a new Midfield Terminal Complex, and various infrastructure projects to improve access and capacity. Today, RSW is the second-busiest single-runway airport in the United States and serves over 11 million passengers annually.

Fort Myers Airport's terminals

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, FAA LID: RSW), also known as Fort Myers Airport, is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Fort Myers, United States. The airport covers 13,555 acres of land, making it the third-largest airport in the United States in terms of land size.

Fort Myers Airport consists of a single terminal with three concourses: Concourse B, C, and D. The terminal has 28 boarding gates in total, with Concourse B having 9 gates, Concourse C having 9 gates, and Concourse D having 10 gates. The airport is currently undergoing a terminal expansion project, with plans to add a new concourse (Concourse E) on the west side of the terminal by 2027.

The terminal offers a range of services and facilities for passengers, including an information desk, restrooms, lost and found, ATMs, flight information screens, courtesy phones, and US checkpoint and border protection. Customs and immigration services for international flights are located on the lower level of Concourse B.

The airport currently serves as a base for Breeze Airways and handled over 10 million passengers in 2023. It provides transportation options such as bus, taxi, and car rental services, with a taxi ride to Fort Myers city centre taking just 20 minutes.

Fort Myers Airport's parking

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, FAA LID: RSW) is a major airport in the South Fort Myers area of unincorporated Lee County, Florida. The airport covers 13,555 acres of land, making it the third-largest airport in the United States in terms of land size.

Fort Myers Airport offers parking in two onsite lots: the Short-term Parking Garage and the Long-term Parking Lot. Both lots are open 24/7 and offer around 11,000 parking spots. The Short-term Parking Garage is located near the terminal and offers covered parking, with the rental car facilities on the ground floor. The second level has covered parking, and the third level has open-air parking. The Long-term Parking Lot is a surface lot behind the Short-Term Parking Garage, offering a free shuttle service for passengers and luggage to and from the terminal. Accessible parking spots are available in both areas, and there is also a Cell Phone lot that provides free parking for a short duration.

The onsite parking rates vary depending on the chosen lot. The Short-term Parking Garage offers free parking for the first 20 minutes, then charges $2 for each additional 20 minutes, with an hourly rate of $3 and a daily maximum of $18. The Long-term Parking Lot charges $2 per hour, $11 per day, and $60 per week. Weekly parking rates increase by $4 for each additional day after the first week.

For those seeking a cheaper option, offsite parking is available at nearby garages or lots, with some offering complimentary shuttle services to and from the airport.

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