Key West Airport Upgrades: What's The Latest?

The Key West International Airport in Monroe County, Florida, is undergoing a series of upgrades and renovations to improve passenger experience and accommodate increasing passenger numbers. The airport broke ground on a new $98.8 million passenger concourse in November 2022, with an expected completion date of early 2025. This new concourse will feature additional gates, jet bridges, a new security checkpoint, and expanded baggage claim areas. The airport has also received funding for upgrades to its facilities and infrastructure, including a runway extension, improved baggage conveyors, and a new family restroom. With these upgrades, the airport aims to enhance the comfort and convenience of travellers passing through Key West.

The $98.8 million Concourse A project is expected to be completed in early 2025

The Key West International Airport in Monroe County, Florida, is undergoing a series of upgrades to improve passenger experience and accommodate increasing passenger volumes. The $98.8 million Concourse A project is a significant component of these upgrades and is expected to be completed in early 2025.

The new concourse will be a single-storey concrete structure with an area of approximately 48,802 square feet, featuring seven passenger boarding jet bridges. It will be located north of the existing terminal building, with clerestory windows on the south side and a curtain wall system on the north side to maximise natural light and enhance transparency.

The concourse will include hold rooms, restrooms, a baggage claim area, support areas, circulation spaces, and concessions. It will be constructed above storm surge and flood elevations, with an open lower side to accommodate airside operations. The design ensures the building's structural integrity and provides passengers with direct access to ground-level baggage claim systems.

In addition to the new concourse, the project involves expanding the existing terminal facilities. This includes expanding the security checkpoints, adding four lanes, and providing additional space for offices and concessions. A new extended passenger bridge will connect the existing terminal to the new concourse, improving passenger flow and accessibility.

The ground-level hall will also be expanded to include a rent-a-car facility, baggage service offices, airline ramp spaces, ramp equipment storage areas, and ramp-level support offices. Furthermore, new baggage make-up areas, devices, and airline ramp spaces will be constructed below the new concourse.

The Concourse A project is part of a master plan to modernise and expand the airport, ensuring it can handle the growing number of passengers travelling to and from the Florida Keys. The upgrades are designed to enhance the overall passenger experience, providing more space, improved facilities, and a smoother flow throughout the airport.

The new concourse will feature seven jet bridges and an expanded security checkpoint

The new Concourse A at Key West International Airport is set to be completed in early 2025. The concourse will be a single-storey, concrete structure with seven jet bridges for passengers to board planes. The new concourse will also feature hold rooms, restrooms, a baggage claim area, support areas, circulation space, and concessions.

The terminal building will be expanded to include an expanded security checkpoint with four lanes, as well as additional space for offices and concessions. A new extended passenger bridge will connect the terminal building to the new concourse, providing passengers with direct access to the ground-level baggage claim systems.

The new concourse will be nearly 50,000 square feet in size and is expected to cost $98.8 million. The project is part of a master plan to modernise and expand the airport to accommodate increasing passenger volumes and enhance the overall experience.

The current airport features an older, ground-level terminal that opened in 1957 and a newer, elevated building that was added in 2009. The airport has seen a constant increase in travellers, with a 10% hike in passengers in the fourth quarter of 2024. The new concourse will provide much-needed space for departing passengers and is expected to improve the overall customer experience.

The project is part of a masterplan to modernise and expand the airport

The Key West International Airport is undergoing a series of upgrades and expansions to modernise its facilities and accommodate increasing passenger numbers. The project, estimated to cost \$98.8 million, includes the construction of a new concourse and upgrades to existing terminal facilities.

The new concourse, named Concourse A, will be a single-storey concrete structure with an area of 48,802 square feet. It will feature seven passenger boarding jet bridges, departure gates, a hold room, restrooms, a baggage claim area, and concessions. The design will include large windows and a curtain wall system to allow natural light and enhance the passenger experience.

In addition to the new concourse, the expansion project will also involve upgrading the existing terminal building. This includes expanding the security checkpoints, adding more lanes, and creating additional space for offices and concessions. A new extended passenger bridge will connect the existing terminal to the new concourse, providing direct access to the ground-level baggage claim systems.

The ground-level hall will be expanded to include a new rent-a-car facility, baggage service offices, airline ramp spaces, ramp equipment storage areas, and ramp-level support offices. Furthermore, a baggage-claim expansion is planned at the ground-level concourse to support increased baggage operations, including the expansion of the baggage make-up area and the construction of a turboprop hold room.

The project aims to enhance the overall passenger experience by providing more space, improving facilities, and streamlining baggage processing. These upgrades are part of the airport's masterplan to modernise and expand its infrastructure to cater to the growing demand for air travel in the region.

The airport has seen a 10% hike in passengers in the fourth quarter of 2024

The Key West International Airport has seen a significant surge in passenger numbers, with a 10% increase in the fourth quarter of 2024. This rise has been attributed to the airport's ongoing $80 million upgrade project, which includes a new concourse, enhanced security checkpoints, and expanded departure facilities.

The airport's director, Richard Strickland, attributes this growth to the increasing popularity of air travel and the introduction of new nonstop flights to destinations like Boston and Washington, D.C. The airport has seen an impressive increase of 107,115 passengers, with 92,051 passengers recorded in October alone.

To accommodate this surge in passengers, the airport has undertaken a range of upgrades and improvements. The new Concourse A, expected to be completed in early 2025, will feature seven passenger boarding jet bridges, spacious hold rooms, and improved baggage claim and security checkpoint areas. The concourse will be a single-story concrete structure with natural lighting and a sense of transparency, enhancing the overall passenger experience.

In addition to the new concourse, the airport has also made upgrades to existing terminal facilities. These include the creation of a new family restroom and pet relief station, renovations to existing restrooms, and modernization of baggage conveyors. The runway length and taxiway have also been extended to 5,075 feet, and a new elevated maintenance storage facility has been constructed. These improvements are designed to provide better service, a more relaxed terminal atmosphere, and faster baggage processing.

The upgrades and increased flight options have transformed the airport into a bustling gateway to the Florida Keys, attracting visitors from across the United States. With these improvements, the airport is well-equipped to handle the growing passenger numbers and provide a seamless travel experience.

The runway length and taxiway have been extended to 5,075 feet

The $98.8 million upgrade to Key West International Airport includes a runway extension to 5,075 feet. This is a significant development, as the airport's relatively short runway had previously restricted the size of aircraft that could use the airport and imposed weight limits on departing flights.

The runway extension is part of a wider upgrade to the airport's infrastructure, which includes a new concourse, expanded security checkpoint, new gates, a new hold room, new concessions, and a new baggage claim area. The new concourse will be completed in early 2025 and will feature seven passenger boarding jet bridges, with space for hold rooms, restrooms, and baggage claim. The terminal building will also be expanded, with additional space for offices and concessions, as well as expanded security checkpoints.

The airport's upgrades are designed to accommodate the increasing number of passengers using the airport and to improve the overall passenger experience. The airport has seen a 10% increase in passengers in the fourth quarter of 2024, with nearly 1.2 million passengers using the airport so far that year. The upgrades will provide more space for passengers and improve the efficiency of baggage processing.

The runway extension, in particular, will enable larger aircraft to use the airport and remove previous weight restrictions on departing flights. This will increase the airport's capacity and improve its functionality, making it a more efficient and accessible transportation hub.

Frequently asked questions