Florida's Gateway To Key West: Which Airport To Choose?

Key West, Florida, is a tiny island located 90 miles off the mainland of Florida, closer to Havana, Cuba, than Miami, Florida. The island has its own airport, Key West International Airport (EYW), which is located 1.7 miles from the island. The airport is served by several major airlines, including Delta, American, United, and Silver Airways, and offers daily flights to and from various destinations across the United States.

Key West International Airport (IATA: EYW)

The airport is relatively small, covering 334 acres (135 ha) at an elevation of 3 feet (1 m). It features a single runway, 09/27, which is 5,076 feet (1,547 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide, with an asphalt surface. The runway's relatively short length limits the size of aircraft that can serve the airport, with the largest planes currently being shortened variants of popular narrow-body models, such as the Airbus A319 and Boeing 737-700. Flights departing from EYW also often have weight restrictions.

Key West International Airport has two terminals, with a combined area of about 60,000 square feet (5,574 m2). The older ground-level terminal, which opened in 1957, now serves arriving passengers and includes an expanded departure gate lounge and baggage claim area. The newer, elevated terminal building, added in 2009, houses ticketing, check-in, and security. It includes an elevated roadway and provides parking for 300 vehicles, with 150 spaces for rental cars and 150 for the public.

A new $98.8 million passenger concourse is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in early 2025. This concourse will add nearly 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of space, featuring a new departures area, upgraded security checkpoint, additional baggage areas, and new gates with seven jet bridges.

The airport serves several major airlines, including Delta, American Airlines, United, Silver Airways, jetBlue, British Airways, Allegiant, and JetBlue, with daily flights to various destinations across the United States. These include Atlanta, New York LaGuardia, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, Chicago, Newark, Houston, and Washington, among others.

Key West International Airport is the closest airport to the island of Key West, providing easy access to this tropical paradise, which is the southernmost city in the continental United States.

Airlines that fly to Key West

Key West International Airport (EYW) is located directly on the island of Key West, which is an island off the south coast of Florida. The island is 90 miles from mainland Florida and is closer to Havana, Cuba than Miami, Florida.

A handful of major airlines offer daily flights to Key West from 24 cities. These include:

• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Silver Airways
• United Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Allegiant Air
• Azul Brazilian Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Air New Zealand
• TAP Air Portugal
• Virgin Atlantic Airways
• WestJet

Routes

American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines offer non-stop services to and from the following destinations:

American Airlines

• Miami (MIA)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Charlotte (CLT)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Chicago (ORD)
• New York (LGA)
• Washington D.C. (DCA)

Delta Airlines

• Atlanta (ATL)
• New York (LGA)

United Airlines

• Houston (IAH)
• Newark (EWR)
• Washington-Dulles (IAD)
• Chicago (ORD)

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Silver Airways, JetBlue Airways, and Allegiant Air also offer non-stop services to various destinations, including Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Boston.

Airports near Key West

Key West is a tiny island located 90 miles off the coast of Florida, closer to Havana, Cuba, than Miami. The island is just 2 miles by 4 miles and is the westernmost island of the Florida Keys that you can drive to.

Key West International Airport

The closest airport to Key West is Key West International Airport (IATA: EYW, ICAO: KEYW, FAA LID: EYW), located just 1.7 miles from the main commercial centre of the island. The airport is served by several major airlines, including Delta, American Airlines, United, and Silver Airways, with daily flights from across the United States.

Alternative Airports

The island of Key West is also accessible via other airports in Florida, such as Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Tampa (TPA), and Orlando (MCO). These airports offer a wider range of flights and may be more convenient for those travelling from outside of the United States.

Getting to Key West

Once you arrive at Key West International Airport, you can easily get to the island by taxi, which takes just 3 minutes. Alternatively, for those who prefer a more scenic route, it is possible to drive to Key West from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, taking in the coastal part of the Everglades and the floating bridges along the way.

Transport to Key West from the airport

Key West International Airport is located directly on the island of Key West. It is the closest airport to the island, located just 1.7 miles away.

There are several transport options available to get to Key West from the airport.

Taxi

A taxi from the airport to Key West will take around 3 minutes. Taxi companies operating in the area include Big Al’s Taxi, Big Al’s #2 (ADA Van), Florida Keys Taxi, Island Coaches, Key Lime Taxi, and Yellow Cab Company.

Shuttle

The Keys Shuttle Company provides daily door-to-door shuttle services from Key West International Airport, as well as Miami and Ft. Lauderdale airports, to destinations across the Florida Keys. The shuttles depart six times a day, seven days a week, and offer a comfortable and affordable travel experience.

Bus

The Greyhound Keys Shuttle offers daily scheduled departures from Miami Airport to all areas in the Keys. The Keys City Bus and Lower Keys Shuttle also provide bus services within the Keys.

Rental Car

Key West International Airport has several rental car companies on-site, including Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, National, and Thrifty. Driving from Miami to Key West will take around 3 hours, and from Fort Lauderdale, around 4 hours. The drive offers a scenic route with a series of bridges and islands.

Ferry

Ferry services are also available to Key West from Fort Myers and Marco Island. The Key West Express ferry offers a full galley and bar, comfortable seating, and a friendly crew.

History of Key West aviation

Key West's aviation history began in 1913 with a flight to Cuba by Augustin Parla. In 1917, the Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West was established due to the island's favourable weather conditions and strategic location. Initially, NAS was to be a small coastal air patrol station with three seaplane ramps located at what is now Trumbo Point. On September 22, 1917, the first flight from Key West was made with a Curtis N-9 plane flown by USCG Lt. Parker, who was also the commanding officer of NAS Key West.

During World War I, NAS Key West pilots flew seaplanes and blimps in search of German submarines in the area. Over 500 aviators trained at this site during the war, making it a premier training site for aviators. After the war, the base became inactive for a period.

In 1920, Aeromarine West Indies Airways, also known as Florida West Indies Airways or Aeromarine Sightseeing and Navigation Company, commenced operations with a flight from Key West to Havana. They transported passengers, mail, and freight and were one of the first international airlines in the United States. Aeromarine used F5L "flying boats" bought from the U.S. Navy, including the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. These "flying boats" could travel at approximately 70 miles per hour and could reach Cuba in just over 60 minutes.

In 1924, Aeromarine ceased operations due to a freeze on mail contracts. However, in 1927, Pan American Airways, or Pan Am, was founded and began scheduled operations between Key West and Cuba for mail and passenger transport. The first scheduled service flight from Key West to Cuba took place on January 16, 1928, carrying seven passengers. Pan Am's founder, Juan Trippe, aimed "to provide mass air transportation for the average man at rates he can afford to pay."

During World War II, the main runway at Meacham Field, now Key West International Airport, was used by the U.S. Army and Navy as an alternative to the Trumbo Point seaplane base. After the war, the city took over what became the Key West Municipal Airport. In January 1953, the airport became the Key West International Airport, and commercial airlines began offering flights to Key West.

Today, Key West International Airport continues to serve the island, accommodating over one million passengers a year and undergoing expansions to enhance its facilities and runway.

Frequently asked questions