Key West Airport: A Small Island Aviation Hub

Key West International Airport is located on the tiny island of Key West, which is about 180 miles southwest of Miami International Airport. The airport covers 334 acres at an elevation of 3 feet and has one runway that is 5,076 feet long and 100 feet wide. The runway's length limits the size of aircraft that can serve the airport, with the largest aircraft currently serving the airport being the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737-700. The airport has two terminals, with the older ground-level terminal opening in 1957 and a newer terminal being added in 2009, doubling the size of the airport.

Runway length and aircraft size restrictions

Key West International Airport, located in Monroe County, Florida, has a single runway, 09/27, which is 5,076 feet long and 100 feet wide (1,547 x 30 metres). This relatively short runway imposes restrictions on the maximum size of aircraft that can serve the airport, as well as weight restrictions on departing flights.

The runway length limits the aircraft size primarily due to the take-off and landing requirements of different planes. Larger aircraft generally necessitate longer runways to achieve the necessary speed for take-off. Conversely, shorter runways may not provide sufficient distance for larger planes to decelerate and come to a stop after landing.

Currently, the largest aircraft operating at Key West International Airport are the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737-700. These are shortened variants of popular narrow-body mainline aircraft. Airlines such as Allegiant, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines operate the Airbus A319, while United Airlines operates the Boeing 737-700.

In addition to the runway length, the airport's infrastructure, including taxiways and terminal facilities, also plays a role in accommodating different aircraft sizes. The size of the aircraft apron, parking positions, and gate infrastructure can influence the types of aircraft an airport can handle. Furthermore, factors such as the number of passengers an airport serves and the availability of supporting equipment, like ground support vehicles, can also impact aircraft size restrictions.

To summarise, the runway length of 5,076 feet at Key West International Airport directly influences the maximum size of aircraft that can safely operate there. This results in restrictions on specific aircraft models, with the largest currently being the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737-700.

Terminal buildings and expansions

Key West International Airport first opened in 1957 with one terminal building. This older ground-level terminal now serves arriving passengers. In February 2009, a new 30,000-square-foot terminal opened, doubling the size of the airport. The new terminal was built over the parking lot, providing parking for 300 vehicles at ground level.

The airport has two terminals designed by Mark Mosko and Dwane Stark of URS. Mosko also worked on Baltimore–Washington International Airport. The newer terminal features an elevated building, providing parking for 150 rental cars and 150 public parking spaces underneath.

In November 2022, construction began on a new $98.8 million passenger concourse. This new concourse will be nearly 50,000 square feet in size and will include a new departures area, an upgraded security checkpoint, additional baggage areas, and new gates with seven jet bridges. The project is expected to be completed in early 2025.

The airport covers 334 acres of land at an elevation of 3 feet. Its single runway, 09/27, is 5,076 feet long and 100 feet wide, with an asphalt surface. The runway's length restricts the size of aircraft that can serve the airport, with the largest aircraft currently serving the airport being the Airbus A319 and the similarly sized Boeing 737-700.

Airlines and flights

Key West International Airport is located about 180 miles southwest of Miami Airport. The airport covers 334 acres of land at an elevation of 3 feet. Its single runway, 09/27, is 5,076 feet long and 100 feet wide, with an asphalt surface. The runway length restricts the size of aircraft that can serve the airport, with the Airbus A319 and Boeing 737-700 being the largest planes currently serving the airport. Additionally, departing flights often have weight restrictions.

The airport has two terminals, with the older ground-level terminal building, opened in 1957, now serving arriving passengers. An expanded terminal, elevated over the parking lot, was added in February 2009. In November 2022, construction began on a new $98.8 million passenger concourse, which will feature a new departures area, enhanced security, additional baggage areas, and new gates with seven jet bridges. The project is expected to be completed in early 2025.

Several airlines operate flights to and from Key West International Airport. These include Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which operate mainline jets. JetBlue operates the Airbus A220. American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express offer regional jet services, while Silver Airways operates turboprop aircraft.

Historically, National Airlines began flights to Miami in 1944, and by 1968, it introduced the first jet flights to Key West, providing non-stop service to Miami. In the early 1990s, USAir and Eastern Air Lines ended their jet services to Key West, and Cape Air began serving the airport with flights to Naples and later expanding to Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers. Other airlines operating at Key West during that time included Airways International, Pan Am Express, Paradise Island Airlines, and USAir Express.

Location and transportation

Key West International Airport (IATA: EYW, ICAO: KEYW, FAA LID: EYW) is located in the City of Key West in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The airport is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the main commercial hub of Key West, which is an island located 180 miles southwest of Miami, Florida. The island measures 2 miles by 4 miles and is closer to Havana, Cuba than to Miami.

Covering 334 acres at an elevation of 3 feet, the airport features a single runway, 09/27, which is 5,076 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. The runway's length restricts the size of aircraft that can serve the airport, with the Airbus A319 and Boeing 737-700 being the largest planes currently serving the airport. Additionally, departing flights often have weight restrictions.

Key West International Airport has two terminals, with the older ground-level terminal opening in 1957 and now serving arriving passengers. The addition of a second terminal in 2009 doubled the size of the airport, providing parking for 300 vehicles, including 150 spaces for rental cars. In 2022, construction began on a new $98.8 million passenger concourse, expected to be completed in early 2025. This new concourse will add a larger departures area, enhanced security, additional baggage areas, and new gates with seven jet bridges.

The airport is accessible by various means of transportation, including a free airport shuttle provided by the Sheraton Suites Key West hotel, which is located 1 mile west of the airport. For those travelling beyond Key West, common connecting airports include Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Tampa (TPA), Orlando (MCO), and Atlanta (ATL).

Aviation history

Key West International Airport, the southernmost airport in the continental United States, has a rich aviation history that dates back to the early 1900s. The airport's history is closely tied to the island's military presence and its transformation into a thriving tourist destination.

The island's conducive weather conditions and strategic location made it an ideal choice for the establishment of Naval Air Station Key West in 1917. Initially serving as a small coastal air patrol station with seaplane ramps, the first official flight from Key West took place on September 22, 1917, with a Curtis N-9 plane flown by USCG Lt. Parker. Throughout World War I, NAS Key West pilots flew seaplanes and blimps in search of German submarines, and the base became a premier training site for over 500 aviators.

In the early days of aviation, Key West witnessed several pioneering flights. On May 19, 1913, Augustin Parla flew a bi-wing seaplane to Cuba, marking the beginning of Key West's aviation history. In 1920, Florida West Indies Airways and the Aeromarine Sightseeing and Navigation Company commenced operations, offering flights from Key West to Havana. However, they ceased operations in 1924 due to a freeze on mail contracts.

In 1928, Pan American Airways, also known as Pan Am, began scheduled flights from Key West, becoming the USA's main international air service in the 1920s. During World War II, the main runway at Meacham Field was pressed into US Army and Navy use, serving as an alternative to the Trumbo Point seaplane base. After the war, the city took over, and the airport became known as the Key West Municipal Airport.

In the following decades, various airlines served Key West, including Air Florida, Eastern Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, and American Eagle. The airport underwent significant expansion and renovation starting in 2006, more than doubling in size. In 2021, Silver Airways expanded its reach by launching service to Key West International Airport, enhancing connectivity to the Georgia coast and the Florida Keys. Today, the airport continues to play a crucial role in connecting Key West to the world, catering to both commercial and private aviation.

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