Tampa's Airport: A Travel Hub For Florida's West Coast

Tampa, Florida, is home to several airports, including the major Tampa International Airport (TPA). This airport is located just 5-8 miles from the city centre and offers both domestic and international flights to over 100 destinations. Other nearby airports include St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (14.6-17 miles away), Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (39.4-59 miles away), and Orlando International Airport (78.1-85 miles away). Tampa's airports provide convenient travel options for visitors and locals alike, with comfortable facilities and efficient services.

Tampa International Airport

The airport itself was originally known as Drew Field Municipal Airport until 1952, when it was renamed Tampa International Airport. The airport has undergone significant growth and expansion over the years, with various airlines operating from its terminals and continuously improving its facilities. Today, it covers an area of 3,300 acres at an elevation of 26 feet above mean sea level, featuring three runways of varying lengths and surfaces.

The airport has also been recognised for its innovative wayfinding signage system, which uses a red/blue colour scheme to guide drivers and passengers efficiently. This system has made it safer for drivers and reduced the number of signs needed. With its central Landside Terminal for baggage and ticketing functions and four Airside satellites for embarkment and disembarkment, Tampa International Airport was the first airport in the world to feature this unique Landside/Airside terminal design.

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport

The airport is a small-hub primary commercial service facility, offering non-stop air service to 65 destinations. It is also a quick drive to Pinellas County's beaches, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a popular choice for pilots of private planes and executive jets due to its less busy atmosphere compared to Tampa International Airport.

The airport has a rich history, starting as a WWII military training base called Pinellas Army Airfield. After the war, it was returned to Pinellas County and operated as a civil airport, originally named Pinellas International Airport. In 1958, the name was changed to St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport to increase its appeal to tourists.

Today, the airport covers 1900 acres (769 ha) of land and has two asphalt runways. It is home to the Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, the largest and busiest U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in the country. The airport also has a significant economic impact, contributing over $400 million yearly to the Tampa Bay area and supporting more than 3,000 jobs.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

The airport covers 1,102 acres of land and has two asphalt runways. In the year ending October 31, 2023, the airport recorded 163,082 aircraft operations, with an average of 446 operations per day. 340 aircraft were based at the airport as of October 31, 2023.

The airport has a rich history, dating back to the 1930s when Sarasota and Bradenton had their own airfields. Construction of the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport began in 1939, and it opened in 1940 with assistance from the CCC and WPA at a cost of $1 million. The airport has undergone expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of a new terminal in 1989 and a new aircraft control tower in 2017.

The airport's IATA airport code, "SRQ", has become a general nickname for the Sarasota area and is used by various local businesses and media outlets.

Tampa Executive Airport

The airport is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends, with after-hours services available upon request. Tampa Executive Airport offers a range of amenities, including a beautiful and spacious lobby area, a pilot lounge with a large-screen TV, crew shower facilities, a weather/flight planning room, and two large multi-media conference rooms.

Peter O Knight Airport

Peter O. Knight Airport (IATA: TPF, ICAO: KTPF, FAA LID: TPF) is a small airport located on Davis Islands, just three miles from downtown Tampa, Florida. The airport is named after prominent attorney and businessman Peter O. Knight.

The airport is situated on the tip of Davis Islands and boasts panoramic water views. It was Tampa's first commercial service airport and served as the city's main airport from 1935 to 1945. Today, it is still used by general aviation operators due to its proximity to the city centre. The airport covers an area of 110 acres at an elevation of 8 feet above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 4/22, which measures 3,580 by 100 feet, and 18/36, which measures 2,688 by 75 feet.

Peter O. Knight Airport is known for its unique feel and ambiance, offering a taste of Florida living to travellers. The airport is also notable for its participation in local events, such as the Islands Fest and Tampa's annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest. The former, which started in 2006, is a joint venture between the airport and the Seaplane Basin Park, showcasing a variety of aircraft, car club participants, and other local sponsors. The latter is a Mardi Gras-like festival that includes a Pirate Flotilla sailing up the channel into Tampa, providing an ideal viewing opportunity for those at the airport.

The airport has undergone several improvements over the years, including extensions to the northeast and southwest ends of the runway for added safety and hangar space expansion. The fixed-base operator (FBO) at the airport is Atlas Aviation, which offers services such as jet fuel, full-service maintenance, aircraft sales and rental, and rental cars.

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