Fort Walton Airport: Size, Significance, And Scope

The Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Florida, and is around 14-16 miles from Fort Walton Beach. The airport covers 6,500 acres and has a 116,000 sq ft passenger terminal with eight gates. Previously known as the Northwest Florida Regional Airport, the airport has two runways, with the primary runway measuring 12,004 ft x 300 ft.

Runway and terminal size

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida. The airport covers 6,500 acres (2,630 ha) and shares two runways with Eglin AFB:

• Runway 12/30, which is 12,004 ft × 300 ft (3,659 m × 91 m) and is made of asphalt/concrete
• Runway 02/20, which is 10,012 ft × 300 ft (3,052 m × 91 m) and is asphalt

The airport has a single terminal building with two levels. The terminal has 116,000 sq ft (10,800 m2) of space and 12 gates, numbered from 1 to 12. The gates are divided into two concourses: Concourse A and Concourse B. The first level has Gates A1, A2, and A3, each with waiting areas and a concession zone for food and drinks. The second level has Gates B1 through B6, although Gates B3 and B5 are less frequently used. The second level also has a restaurant and additional concession options. The terminal building also has areas for ticketing and baggage claim on the upper and lower levels, respectively.

The airport's compact and efficient terminal layout makes it easy for passengers to navigate, with all gates accessible from the main concourse and minimal walking time between gates. The airport offers a range of amenities to enhance the passenger experience, including car rentals, restaurants, retail outlets, free Wi-Fi, charging stations, restrooms, and a play area for children.

Ownership and location

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach, in Okaloosa County, Florida. The airport is just under 16 miles from Destin and 14 miles from the centre of Fort Walton Beach. It is accessible via State Road 85.

The airport is about 25 minutes from Destin and 21 miles from Valparaiso. It is also 59 miles from Panama City, 67 miles from Bonifay, 32 miles from Crestview, and 48 miles from Pensacola. Pensacola International Airport is the nearest major airport to Fort Walton Beach, located 43 miles away.

Fort Walton Beach Airport covers 15 acres (6.1 hectares) and has a single runway designated 18/36 with a turf surface measuring 2,100 x 65 feet (640 x 20 metres). The airfield is situated on Lower Pritchard Long Point, nestled between Santa Rosa Sound and US Highway 98.

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport and Eglin Air Force Base together span 6,500 acres (2,630 hectares) and share two runways. The airport boasts a 116,000-square-foot (10,800-square-metre) passenger terminal with eight gates. The terminal features ticketing and baggage claim areas, upper and lower concourses, and concession areas.

The airport is privately owned by John S. Williams.

History of name changes

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida. The airport covers 6,500 acres and has a 116,000 sq ft passenger terminal with eight gates.

The airport has undergone several name changes throughout its history. Initially, it was known as the Okaloosa County Air Terminal when it opened in 1957. Southern Airways was the only passenger airline operating at the time, offering direct flights to Atlanta. In September 1968, the Southern Airways system timetable listed daily nonstop DC-9-10 jet service to Atlanta and New Orleans.

In February 1975, the Okaloosa Air Terminal was renamed when the new James E. Plew Terminal Building opened on State Road 85. This terminal was significantly larger than the previous one, spanning 32,000 sq ft. The dedication ceremony featured notable speakers, including Representative Bob Sikes and Southern Airways President Frank Hulse.

In September 2008, the airport underwent another name change, becoming the Northwest Florida Regional Airport. This name remained until February 17, 2015, when it was officially changed to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport. This final change was made to better reflect the airport's location and proximity to the nearby cities.

Airlines that use the airport

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Florida. The airport is around 14-16 miles from Destin and Fort Walton Beach and is about a 25-minute drive to either city. Covering 6,500 acres, the airport has a 116,000 sq ft passenger terminal with eight gates.

Several airlines operate from Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport, including both domestic and international carriers. Here is a list of some of the airlines that have used the airport:

• Allegiant Air operates scheduled services to VPS from various cities, including Cincinnati, Ft Lauderdale, Oklahoma City, Knoxville, Memphis, and St Louis/Belleville.
• Contour Airlines provides seasonal flights from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to VPS using turboprop aircraft.
• Delta Air Lines offers nonstop flights to its hub in Atlanta.
• Vision Airlines has a small scheduled passenger hub at VPS, with flights to multiple destinations, including Asheville, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Las Vegas.
• Southern Airways was the airport's only passenger airline in 1957, operating Douglas DC-3s direct to Atlanta via several stops.
• Republic Airlines operated nonstop flights to Atlanta and other destinations in the 1980s, using DC-9 jets.
• GLO Airlines previously offered seasonal service from VPS to Little Rock and New Orleans using turboprop aircraft before ceasing operations.

These are just a few examples of the airlines that have served or currently serve the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport. The airport caters to both commercial and non-commercial flights, with commercial air traffic being allowed exclusively.

Nearby airports

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach, in Okaloosa County, Florida. The airport covers 6,500 acres and has two runways. It is the nearest major airport to Fort Walton Beach.

There are several other airports near Fort Walton Beach, including some smaller local airports. Here is a list of nearby airports, with distances to Fort Walton Beach:

• Valparaiso, FL (VPS/KVPS) Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport – 14 miles
• Pensacola, FL (PNS/KPNS) Pensacola International Airport – 43 miles
• Panama City, FL (ECP/KECP) Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport – 59 miles
• Bonifay, FL (KBCR) Tri-County Airport – 67 miles
• Mary Esther, FL (KHRT/HRT) Hurlburt Field – 6 miles
• Destin, FL (DSI) Destin Ft Walton Beach – 10 miles
• Valparaiso, FL (EGI/KEGI) Duke Field – 21 miles
• Crestview, FL (CEW/KCEW) Bob Sikes Airport – 32 miles
• Pensacola, FL (NPA/KNPA) Naval Air Station Pensacola – 48 miles
• Milton, FL (NSE/KNSE) NAS Whiting Field – 50 miles
• Pensacola, FL (NUN/KNUN) Saufley Field – 50 miles

Some of these distances are straight-line estimates, and the actual driving distance may vary.

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