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Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is a major airport in the South Fort Myers area of unincorporated Lee County, Florida. The airport serves the Southwest Florida region, including the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Naples-Marco Island, and Punta Gorda metropolitan areas. RSW is the second-busiest single-runway airport in the United States, after San Diego International Airport, California. The airport currently offers TSA PreCheck, an expedited screening option. However, it has not been announced whether RSW will offer the CLEAR service, which provides quick identity verification through eye or fingerprint scanning.
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What You'll Learn
- Southwest Florida International Airport is located in Fort Myers, Florida
- The airport is one of the busiest single-runway airports in the US
- It is praised for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and easy navigation
- The airport is expanding its terminal to improve efficiency and provide more amenities
- CLEAR is a private service that allows for quick identity verification at the airport
Southwest Florida International Airport is located in Fort Myers, Florida
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and is one of the top 50 airports in the US. It is one of the newest airports in the country, having first opened in 1983 as Southwest Florida Regional Airport. It was renamed Southwest Florida International Airport in 1993, though it had been hosting international flights since 1984 and U.S. Customs since 1987.
The airport is focused on convenience and comfort and is committed to providing the region's commercial air service while offering an exceptional travel experience to the millions of passengers who use the airport each year. It is located just southeast of Fort Myers, and its location provides quick access to Interstate 75 and U.S. 41, putting all the attractions of the region within easy driving distance. The airport served more than 11 million passengers in 2024 and is the second-busiest single-runway airport in the United States, after San Diego International Airport, California.
The airport has one terminal with 27 gates across three concourses: B, C, and D. Concourse B has nine gates and serves Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Discover Airlines, Frontier, Porter, Southwest, and Sun Country. Concourse C also has nine gates and serves Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and WestJet. Concourse D has nine gates and serves American Airlines, Breeze Airways, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines.
In addition to the convenience and comfort offered by the airport, travellers can also benefit from CLEAR, a private service that allows for quick identity verification. With CLEAR, passengers can step up to a CLEAR pod and verify their identity with their eyes or fingerprint instead of waiting to show a government-issued photo ID. CLEAR is available at more than 80 airports and stadiums worldwide, including four airports in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, and Palm Beach.
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The airport is one of the busiest single-runway airports in the US
Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, FAA LID: RSW) is one of the busiest single-runway airports in the US. Located in the South Fort Myers area of unincorporated Lee County, Florida, the airport serves the Southwest Florida region, including the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Naples-Marco Island, and Punta Gorda metropolitan areas. With a runway length of 12,000 ft (3,658 m), it is the fourth-longest runway in Florida.
The airport covers 13,555 acres (5,486 ha, 21.2 sq. mi.) of land, making it the third-largest airport in the United States in terms of land size. Of this land, 6,000 acres have been conserved as swamp lands and set aside for environmental mitigation. The airport has one runway, designated as runway 06/24, with an asphalt surface. In 2024, the airport recorded 97,077 aircraft operations, averaging 265 per day, and served 11,028,182 passengers, the most in its history. The design capacity of the airport is 10 million passengers per year, with 28 gates across three concourses (B, C, and D). The terminal buildings can be expanded to accommodate up to 65 gates across five concourses (A-E).
The history of the airport dates back to 1983 when it opened as Southwest Florida Regional Airport. By 1985, several additional airlines were serving the airport, and in 1986, American Trans Air began service to Fort Myers with flights to Indianapolis International Airport. The airport was renamed Southwest Florida International Airport in 1993, reflecting its ability to handle international flights since 1984 and the presence of U.S. Customs since 1987. The name change also coincided with the completion of a 55,000-square-foot Federal Inspection facility attached to Concourse A.
Over time, the airport has undergone expansions to meet growing demand. In 1994, Fort Myers welcomed its first flight to Europe with the introduction of the Munich–Düsseldorf–Fort Myers–Miami–Düsseldorf–Munich route. By 1998, the original terminal had been expanded with a new wing added to Concourse B, bringing the total number of gates to 17. The airport continues to enhance its infrastructure, with plans for a second runway in the works and a terminal expansion project underway.
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It is praised for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and easy navigation
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers is praised for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and easy navigation. The airport is located in the South Fort Myers area of unincorporated Lee County, Florida, United States, and serves the Southwest Florida region, including the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Naples-Marco Island, and Punta Gorda metropolitan areas. With a land area of 13,555 acres, it is the third-largest airport in the United States. The airport has a single runway, designated as Runway 06/24, and plans for a second runway are in the works.
The airport is known for its efficient and streamlined security procedures, with TSA PreCheck lanes available at all security checkpoints to expedite the screening process for enrolled passengers. RSW has three security checkpoints equipped with smart technology, ensuring a smooth and quick passage for travellers. The airport also offers a range of facilities, including handicap parking spaces in both short and long-term parking lots, accessible shuttle buses, and car rental services located on the lower level of the parking garage.
In addition to its efficient security measures, RSW boasts an impressive list of airlines serving the airport. Initially, when the airport opened in 1983, it was served by Air Florida Commuter, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, Northwest Orient Airlines, Ozark Air Lines, Pan Am, Republic Airlines, and United Airlines. Over the years, the list of airlines has expanded, and by 1988, the airport exceeded its annual capacity of 3 million passengers.
The terminal buildings at RSW are designed for incremental expansion, currently offering 28 gates across three concourses (B, C, and D) and with the potential to expand up to 65 gates on five concourses (A-E) in the future. This flexibility ensures that the airport can accommodate increasing passenger traffic, which reached a record-breaking 11,028,182 passengers in 2024. With its efficient security procedures, modern terminals, and convenient facilities, RSW in Fort Myers provides a positive travel experience for its patrons.
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The airport is expanding its terminal to improve efficiency and provide more amenities
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers is expanding its terminal to improve efficiency and provide more amenities. The airport served more than 10 million passengers in 2023 and 11 million in 2024, and by 2041, nearly 17.5 million passengers are expected to travel through the airport.
The terminal expansion project will cost nearly $1.07 billion and will include a new ticketing lobby, a new Concourse E with 14 initial gates and the infrastructure to support 19 gates in the future, a new Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, expanded retail and food & beverage concessions, airside improvements, chiller plant building upgrades, and road and curbside improvements to reconfigure and expand terminal access roads. More than 164,000 square feet of space will be remodeled, and 117,000 square feet of new walkways and concession space will be added to the airport terminal.
The airport's original terminal was expanded in 1998 with a new wing added to Concourse B, which included three additional gates, bringing the total to 17. In 1993, the airport was renamed Southwest Florida International Airport, and a 55,000-square-foot Federal Inspection facility was annexed to the original terminal's Concourse A. The runway was lengthened to 12,000 feet to better accommodate international service.
The airport covers 13,555 acres, 10 miles southeast of Fort Myers, and currently has one runway. Plans for a second runway are in effect. The terminal buildings can be expanded incrementally to 65 gates on five concourses (A-E). The airport has 11,250 spaces for hourly/daily parking and a three-story parking structure for short-term parking.
The airport expansion will improve efficiency and provide more amenities to meet the anticipated increase in demand.
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CLEAR is a private service that allows for quick identity verification at the airport
CLEAR is a private service that offers quick identity verification at the airport. It is available at more than 80 airports and stadiums worldwide, including four airports in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, and Palm Beach. The service is also offered at the Kaseya Center in Miami, where the NBA's Heat play.
CLEAR uses biometrics to allow individuals to identify themselves in just a few seconds through fingerprint or eye scanning technology. This process verifies that "you are you" and allows you to move ahead of other passengers in line waiting for a TSA agent to check their driver's license or other ID. This can be especially beneficial during busy travel seasons, saving you time by avoiding long lines.
CLEAR's identity verification platform makes experiences safer and easier, both physically and digitally. With CLEAR, you can skip the lines at airports and other locations. CLEAR also offers dedicated CLEAR Lanes at stadiums and arenas nationwide, allowing you to get to your seats faster.
To use CLEAR at the airport, you must be 18 years or older and have a valid and unamended form of photo identification, such as a U.S. driver's license, U.S. passport book, or state-issued ID. Signing up for CLEAR membership can be done in just five minutes, and you can start using CLEAR Lanes immediately once enrolled. CLEAR Plus, the upgraded membership, offers additional benefits, including faster security lines and no need to show a boarding pass or ID.
While CLEAR is currently not available at Fort Myers Airport, a spokesperson for the airport has indicated that they will be considering this option after completing the Terminal Expansion Project.
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Frequently asked questions
CLEAR is a private service that allows you to step in front of a machine that will scan your eyes or fingerprint, moving you ahead of other passengers in the line where you wait for a TSA agent to check your driver's license or other ID.
CLEAR is not yet available at RSW. However, RSW has said that they will be looking at this option after they complete the Terminal Expansion Project.
CLEAR costs $189 per year. If you want to add family members, the cost is another $99 per person.
CLEAR saves you time by allowing you to skip the line for a TSA worker to review your driver's license or other ID. This can be especially beneficial during the busy holiday travel season.
TSA PreCheck is an expedited screening option available at RSW that offers a more efficient and streamlined security check for enrolled passengers.
