Pie Airport: Understanding Its Massive Scale And Impact

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport, also known as St. Petersburg Airport or PIE, is a 2,000-acre public/military airport in Pinellas County, Florida, serving the Tampa Bay Area. The airport has a unique feature: its single terminal design, which makes navigation a breeze for passengers. The terminal building is small and divided into two levels, with arrivals on the ground level and departures on the upper level. PIE is located on the west shoreline of Tampa Bay, six miles (10 km) north of St. Petersburg, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Clearwater, and 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Tampa.

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport's history

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (IATA: PIE, ICAO: KPIE, FAA LID: PIE) is a public/military airport in Pinellas County, Florida, serving the Tampa Bay Area. The airport is situated on the northeast municipal boundary of Pinellas Park, 9 miles (14 km) north of downtown St. Petersburg, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Clearwater, and 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Tampa.

The airport has a rich history dating back to the early days of aviation. Construction of the airport at its present site began in March 1941, and it marked the beginning of commercial air transportation. Shortly after the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk, the first ticket for air travel was sold by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line to a fare-paying passenger on January 1, 1914. This event is commemorated at the airport with a replica of the Benoist aircraft and a plaque at the terminal baggage claim area.

During World War II, the airport was acquired by the United States Army Air Forces and served as a military flight training base. It was home to the 304th Fighter Squadron, a combat training unit of the 337th Fighter Group, operating P-40 Warhawks and later P-51 Mustangs. The airfield was also used for antisubmarine patrols against German U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico. After the war, the U.S. government returned the property to Pinellas County, and it became a civil airport, originally named Pinellas International Airport and designated as PIE.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport (as it was later renamed) saw service from several major U.S. airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, National Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. The airport was also the original home of two early air freight airlines, U.S. Airlines, and Aerovias Sud Americana (ASA International Airlines). By the late 1970s, regional air carriers like Red Carpet Airlines were operating prop aircraft with nonstop flights from Miami and the Grand Cayman Islands.

In 1982, jet service returned to the airport with Northeastern International Airways offering nonstop flights to New York. The airport continued to expand its services, and in 2013, it was rebranded as St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, adopting a new logo. In 2014, the airport handled over one million passengers, setting a record. In 2023, it broke its own record by serving 2.49 million passengers. Today, the airport is a focus city for Allegiant Air and offers nonstop routes to approximately 65 cities.

The airport's location

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (IATA: PIE, ICAO: KPIE, FAA LID: PIE) is a public/military airport in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is located on the west shoreline of Tampa Bay, six miles (10 km) north of St. Petersburg, Florida, and is 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Clearwater. The airport is 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Tampa and is situated on State Route 686 (Roosevelt Blvd.). Its address is 14700 Terminal Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33762.

The airport is right on the northeast municipal boundary of Pinellas Park, which is 9 miles (14 km) north of downtown St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg is often regarded as the "birthplace of commercial air transportation". The first tickets for airline travel were sold by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line of Tony Jannus to fare-paying passengers. The inaugural flight took place from a location near the downtown St. Petersburg Pier.

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport is a 2,000-acre facility with 2 runways. It is home to the busiest Coast Guard Air Station in the world, and the entire 2000-acre tract of the airport is designated as a Foreign Trade Zone. The airport is also used by U.S. Customs and the FAA-operated control tower.

The airport is easily accessible by road, with the Gateway Expressway Toll Road providing a direct route. The Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) 511 Traveler Information System is a useful resource for real-time traffic updates and travel information.

Terminal building and design

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is located on approximately 2,000 acres of land in Pinellas County, Florida, north of St. Petersburg. It is a convenient gateway to the Tampa Bay area, offering an alternative to the busier Tampa International Airport. The airport has a single terminal, which is divided into two main gate areas: A-Side and B-Side. A-Side includes gates 1-6, while B-Side hosts gates 7-12. Notably, gates 1 and 12 are designated solely for arrivals, with gate 1 leading directly into the Ticketing A lobby and gate 12 opening into the baggage claim area. This streamlined setup helps to efficiently direct passengers from their flights to exit points or baggage collection.

The original terminal building was dedicated in 1957, and the airport was then called the Pinellas International Airport. In 2013, the airport rebranded and shortened its name to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and adopted a new logo.

In 2024, the airport was approved for a $110 million terminal expansion to accommodate its growing number of passengers, which reached 2.5 million the previous year. The expansion will include the addition of more gates to accommodate existing and future airlines, the consolidation of TSA (Transportation Security Administration) checkpoints, the creation of a new level for passenger boarding, and the introduction of new food and beverage vendors. The design work for this expansion is set to commence in spring 2024, with construction expected to begin in 2026.

The terminal building features two security checkpoints on the first floor, both equipped with advanced security technology. The first checkpoint is located near the entrance, while the second is positioned near the gates. A Fast Track lane is available at the first checkpoint for passengers with TSA PreCheck or CLEAR membership, offering an expedited security screening process. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility is located on the second floor of the terminal building. In addition to these security features, the terminal offers a range of amenities, including ample parking, car rental services, and cab and ride-sharing options.

Airlines and flights

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is located on Tampa Bay, north of St. Petersburg, and offers non-stop flights to over 60 destinations. The airport is a 2,000-acre facility with two runways.

There are at least five airlines that fly from the United States to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Allegiant Air and Sun Country offer direct flights to the airport from the US, with flights departing from Indianapolis International Airport, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, and McGhee Tyson Airport. The average price for a round-trip plane ticket from the US to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is $292.

The most popular route to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is from McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, with an average flight time of 1 hour and 43 minutes. Other popular routes include flights from Gerald R. Ford International Airport (average flight time of 2 hours and 48 minutes) and Asheville Regional Airport (average flight time of 1 hour and 40 minutes).

In addition to these domestic flights, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport also offers international flights to various destinations, including Auckland, Beijing, and Sydney.

Parking and transportation

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) has limited parking options. The airport does not have a reservation system, so parking is first-come, first-served. It offers short-term, long-term, and economy parking options. The long-term parking lot is adjacent to the terminal and is open 24 hours a day. When it closes, travellers are directed to the economy lots, which include the Key Lime lot and the Strawberry Lot. The airport recommends that travellers using these lots arrive 2 hours before the first departure of the day and be prepared for shuttle services, which operate between 20-30 minutes.

There are pick-up and drop-off locations at the terminal, with a drop-off zone in front of the terminal between Ticketing A and B, and a drop-off/pick-up area in the Ground Transportation Lot. The airport encourages visitors picking up passengers to use the Cell Phone Lot, which has free Wi-Fi and restrooms. Curbside at the terminal is reserved for active loading and unloading only.

For those looking for long-term parking, off-site parking options are available, including ParkSleepFly.com, which offers advance booking for parking spaces at discounted rates, along with hotel rooms and shuttle services.

Frequently asked questions