Roberta Aguirre
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP) is the closest airport to Panama City, Florida. The airport is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City and is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport & Industrial District. It opened for commercial flights in 2010 and has since been served by airlines such as Delta, Southwest, United, and Silver, offering daily flights to destinations worldwide.
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What You'll Learn
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
The airport opened for commercial flights on May 23, 2010, and is the first international airport in the United States designed and built since the September 11 attacks. However, it currently has no scheduled international flights due to the small population in the surrounding areas and the primarily regional and national demand for travel to Panama City.
The airport replaced the Panama City–Bay County International Airport (Fannin Field, PFN), which was located in Panama City and had been built in 1932. The need to replace this airport arose in the late 1980s due to its two runways not meeting federal standards and the lack of room to expand. After considering various options, including extending the runways into St. Andrews Bay or residential neighbourhoods, the airport authority began searching for relocation sites and received tentative approval to build a new airport in northwestern Bay County in 2001.
The airport offers daily flights to destinations worldwide, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa, with seasonal service to St. Louis. Airlines serving the airport include Delta, Southwest, United, Silver, and American Airlines, which began offering nonstop flights to Charlotte and Dallas/Fort Worth in 2018.
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Runway and aircraft specifications
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP) is the airport serving Panama City, Florida. The airport is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City, in Bay County. It replaced the Panama City–Bay County International Airport (Fannin Field, PFN), which was located in Panama City.
The airport has one runway, designated 16/34. This runway is concrete/grooved and is 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide. The runway has a 4-aligned PAPI light system (glideslope: 2.83°), a MALSR approach lighting system, centreline lights, and touchdown zone lights. The runway has an instrument approach, which includes S-ILS or LOC/DME, and GPS RNAV. For general aviation aircraft, the runway uses a left traffic pattern.
The elevation for Runway 16 is 68.6 feet (20.9 m), while the opposite end, Runway 34, has an elevation of 53.7 feet (16.4 m). This runway also has a 4-aligned PAPI light system (glideslope: 2.83°) and centreline lights. Runway 34 has a GPS RNAV or LOC/DME instrument approach.
There are plans to construct one crosswind and one parallel runway as traffic at the airport increases. Additionally, the airport has a US Customs and Border Protection inspection facility for arriving international flights, although no international airline flights have ever arrived or departed from the airport.
In the 12-month period ending February 28, 2022, the airport recorded 80,665 aircraft operations, averaging 221 per day. The breakdown of these operations was 55% general aviation, 24% commercial, 13% air taxi, and 9% military. As of January 2018, 111 aircraft were based at the airport, including 76 single-engine and 8 multi-engine planes, 26 jets, and 1 glider.
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Cargo facilities
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP) is the airport serving Panama City, Florida. It is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City, in Bay County, and is about 20 minutes from Panama City Beach. The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District.
The airport's cargo facility is situated between the control tower and the general aviation ramp. Flight Express is the primary air cargo service to KECP. The cargo facility is a pre-engineered building with five separate office areas, each with loading/unloading storage areas that accommodate the airlines' truck deliveries.
In the 12-month period ending February 28, 2022, the airport handled 80,665 aircraft operations, averaging 221 per day. Of these, 55% were general aviation, 24% commercial, 13% air taxi, and 9% military. As of that period, 111 aircraft were based at the airport, including 76 single-engine and 8 multi-engine planes, 26 jets, and 1 glider.
The airport's cargo operations are supported by Southern Sky Aviation, which operates a Part 145 Aircraft repair station offering avionics installation, interior work, aircraft maintenance, and sales. The airport's proximity to the Panama City seaport, just 21 km away, further enhances its cargo capabilities.
The airport's cargo facilities are part of a larger complex that includes a new 125,000-square-foot terminal building with seven gates. The terminal features a unique design, with jet bridges for Gates 1-5 and ramp-level access for regional aircraft at Gates 6 and 7. The airport also boasts a US Customs and Border Protection inspection facility for international arrivals.
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Passenger facilities
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP) is the closest airport to Panama City, Florida, located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of the city. The airport offers daily flights to several destinations across the world, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa, with seasonal services to St. Louis.
The airport provides a range of passenger facilities to ensure a comfortable and convenient travel experience. Here are some of the key facilities available:
- Ground Transportation: The airport offers a variety of ground transportation options for passengers arriving or departing from the airport. These include on-airport car rental services from major rental companies, as well as taxis, shuttles, and limousines.
- Dining and Retail: Although specific information about the dining and retail options at the airport is limited, most airports offer a range of food and beverage outlets, as well as shops for passengers to purchase snacks, meals, drinks, and travel essentials.
- Flight Schools: For those interested in aviation, the airport is home to flying schools, such as the Patriot Pilot Academy FTC LLC. Passengers can find information about flying lessons, skydives, and other flying experiences offered near the airport.
- Cargo Facility: The cargo facility at the airport is located between the control tower and the general aviation ramp. Flight Express is the primary air cargo service provider at KECP.
- Runway and Lighting Systems: Runway 16/34 is the only runway at the airport, made of concrete and grooved for optimal traction. It is 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide. The runway is equipped with a 4-aligned PAPI light system, approach lighting, centerline lights, and touchdown zone lights to ensure safe landings and take-offs.
- Airline Options: Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is served by several major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Express, American Airlines, and Silver. These airlines offer nonstop and connecting flights to various destinations across the world.
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Defunct airports
The closest airport to Panama City, Florida is the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP). It is located 18 miles (29 km) from Panama City and is the region's newest airport. It offers daily flights to worldwide destinations, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa. The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport & Industrial District and replaced the now-defunct Panama City–Bay County International Airport (Fannin Field, PFN), which was located in Panama City.
The Panama City–Bay County International Airport (Fannin Field, PFN) was the previous airport serving Panama City, Florida, before it was replaced by the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. It was located in Panama City itself, just 4 miles from the city centre. The airport had been built in 1932, with scheduled service beginning in 1948. However, over time, it could not meet the region's growing aviation needs due to its limited expansion capabilities. The runways did not meet federal standards due to insufficient runway safety areas, and there was strong opposition to extending them into environmentally sensitive areas or residential neighbourhoods. As a result, the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District (Airport Authority) began searching for relocation sites, eventually leading to the construction of the new airport in northwestern Bay County.
Another nearby defunct airport is the Tri-County Airport (KBCR), which offered domestic flights from Bonifay, Florida. It is located 56 miles from Panama City.
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Frequently asked questions
The closest airport to Panama City, Florida, is the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP). The airport is 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City.
Airlines operating from the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport include Delta, Southwest, United, and Silver.
The airport has several restaurants, including Emerald Coast Pub, Beach Time Grill, and Grayton Beer Landing Strip. It also has a Military Welcome Center, which offers a quiet place for active-duty military personnel and Department of Defense employees to relax while waiting for a flight or a ride.
