Pensacola Airport: Size, Growth, And Future Plans

Pensacola International Airport, formerly Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, is a small-hub primary commercial service facility located in Escambia County, Florida. The airport covers an area of 1,211 acres (490 hectares) and has two runways. Despite its name, the airport does not offer scheduled international flights, although chartered international flights are not uncommon. Pensacola International Airport has seen rapid growth in recent years, with an all-time record of 2,731,604 passengers served in 2023. The city of Pensacola has considered expanding the airport to accommodate the increasing passenger numbers and flights.

Pensacola International Airport's land area

Pensacola International Airport (PNS) is the largest market along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Jacksonville, serving over two million residents. The airport covers 1,400 acres of land and has an elevation of 121 feet. It boasts two runways: Runway 17/35, which is 7,004 x 150 feet and made of asphalt, and Runway 8/26, which is 7,000 x 150 feet, also made of asphalt. The airport terminal currently has 12 gates.

The history of Pensacola International Airport dates back to the 1920s and 1930s. In 1933, Lee Conner Hagler and Harry Blanchard purchased 504 acres of wooded land northeast of the city. They cleared space for two grass airstrips and erected a surplus Navy hangar. On April 7, 1934, the first commercial flight landed in Pensacola—a 14-passenger tri-motor Stinson from Atlantic and Gulf Coast Airlines. In 1935, the City of Pensacola bought the airfield for $50,000 and appointed Blanchard as the manager. With the support of the Works Progress Administration, the city transformed Hagler Field into a permanent municipal airport.

In 1936, C.H. (Harry) Blanchard was appointed as the Pensacola airport manager, serving until 1962 except during his overseas service in World War II, when his wife, Van Blanchard, acted as the airport manager. In 1937, Pensacola witnessed the inauguration of its first scheduled passenger service by Atlantic and Gulf Coast Airlines, utilising eight-passenger trimotored Stinsons. National Airlines commenced regular commercial flights to Pensacola on November 1, 1938.

The airport underwent a series of name changes over the years. Initially known as Pensacola Regional Airport, it was renamed in 1972 to reflect the vast surrounding area it served. In 2008, it rebranded as the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, aiming to position itself as the premier airport serving Mobile, Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Fort Walton, and Destin. Finally, in 2011, it received its current name, Pensacola International Airport.

Passenger numbers and growth

Pensacola International Airport is considered a small-hub primary commercial service facility by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, the airport has been witnessing a rapid increase in passenger numbers and flights. In 2018, the airport served 1.9 million passengers, and in 2023, it set a new record with 2,731,604 passengers served. The airport's exponential growth can be observed in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic as well, with growth rates of 16% and 17% in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The high growth rates have led to longer wait times at ticketing and TSA, with the airport recommending passengers arrive 3 hours before their scheduled departure to account for this. The city of Pensacola is considering a $70 million concourse and parking expansion to accommodate the increasing passenger numbers.

Pensacola International Airport is one of five major airports in North Florida, and it is the second largest by passenger count, only behind Jacksonville. The airport covers an area of 1,211 acres (490 hectares) and has two runways. The airport is strategically located just 59 miles from the Airbus A320 Assembly Line Mobile in Brookley Aeroplex, Mobile, Alabama, and has easy access to Interstate, Port, and Rail Services, making it an attractive location for aviation businesses.

The airport's growth is also reflected in the increasing number of destinations and airlines it offers. In 2019, the airport had 22 destinations, and by 2021, this number had increased to 30 destinations served by 8 airlines. The airport also partners with Pensacon each February, temporarily rebranding as Pensacola Intergalactic Airport to celebrate the local Pensacon convention.

Pensacola's airport ranking in North Florida

Pensacola International Airport (IATA: PNS, ICAO: KPNS, FAA LID: PNS) is one of the five major airports in North Florida. It is the second-largest airport by passenger count, only behind Jacksonville International Airport. The other three airports in North Florida are Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, and Tallahassee International Airport.

Pensacola International Airport is located three nautical miles (6 km or 3 mi) northeast of Pensacola's central business district, in Escambia County, Florida. The airport covers an area of 1,211 acres (490 hectares) and sits at an elevation of 121 feet (37 meters) above mean sea level. It has two runways: Runway 17/35, which is 7,004 feet (2,135 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide with a concrete surface, and Runway 08/26, which is 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide with an asphalt surface.

The airport is owned and operated by the City of Pensacola. It has seen a rapid increase in passenger numbers and flights, serving 1.9 million passengers in 2018 and setting a record with 2,731,604 passengers in 2023. To accommodate this growth, the city proposed a $70 million concourse and parking expansion in 2022.

Pensacola International Airport plays a significant role in the region's aviation and aerospace industries. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021-2025 and is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility. The airport's proximity to military bases, such as Naval Air Station Pensacola and Whiting Field, further enhances its importance in the aviation sector.

Runway lengths

Pensacola International Airport (IATA: PNS, ICAO: KPNS, FAA LID: PNS), formerly Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, is located in Escambia County, Florida, United States. It is one of five major airports in North Florida, and the second largest by passenger count.

The airport covers an area of 1,211 acres (490 hectares) at an elevation of 121 feet (37 meters) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 17/35 and 08/26. Runway 17/35 is 7,004 feet (2,135 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide, with a concrete surface. Runway 08/26 is 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide, with an asphalt surface.

Runway 17 is equipped with an instrument landing system and approach lights, while Runway 26 has a localizer approach. In 2006, a 1,000-foot extension was added to the east end of Runway 08/26. The airport has proposed extending Runway 17/35 to approximately 8,500 feet.

Pensacola International Airport has experienced significant growth in recent years, with an exponential increase in passenger numbers and flights. In 2023, the airport set a new record, serving 2,731,604 passengers. To accommodate this growth, the city of Pensacola is considering a $70 million concourse and parking expansion project.

Development plans and expansion

Pensacola International Airport (IATA: PNS, ICAO: KPNS, FAA LID: PNS), formerly Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, is a public airport located in Escambia County, Florida, United States. The airport covers an area of 1,211 acres (490 hectares) and has two runways.

Pensacola International Airport has experienced significant growth in passenger numbers and flights in recent years, driving the need for expansion to accommodate this increase. The airport's master plan, which spans 20 years, includes various projects aimed at enhancing the airport's infrastructure and capacity.

One of the key components of the expansion plan is the proposed $70 million concourse and parking expansion. This project aims to address the rapid increase in passenger numbers and flights by providing additional space and facilities. The new concourse is expected to add five to ten new gates to the existing terminal, accommodating larger aircraft and improving flight options for the Gulf Coast community.

To make way for this expansion, the airport has already demolished the old air traffic control tower and terminal radar approach control building from the 1960s. This clearance will enable the construction of the new concourse and other airfield projects.

The airport has also completed smaller-scale projects, such as constructing an airside remain overnight aircraft ramp to increase parking capacity for commercial service aircraft. Additionally, a new long-term parking lot has been introduced to cater to the growing demand from passengers.

The funding for the expansion will come from a combination of federal and local grants, with the city also considering issuing bonds to cover any remaining costs. While the design phase is ongoing, the construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2024 or 2025.

Pensacola International Airport's expansion plans demonstrate a proactive approach to meeting the growing aviation demands of the region, ensuring improved facilities and services for passengers and airlines alike.

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