Sachin Walls
Fort Walton Beach is served by Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS), which is located within Eglin Air Force Base, adjacent to the city of Valparaiso and near the cities of Destin and Fort Walton Beach, in Okaloosa County, Florida. The airport covers 6,500 acres and has two runways. The airport offers both commercial and non-commercial flights, with several airlines operating scheduled services to and from various destinations across the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport |
| Previous Names | Okaloosa Regional Airport, Northwest Florida Regional Airport |
| Location | Eglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, Okaloosa County, Florida, US |
| Distance from Destin | 16 miles |
| Time to Destin | 25 minutes |
| Airlines | Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Southern Airways, Republic Airlines, Vision Airlines, Allegiant Air, Contour Airlines, Avelo Airlines |
| Aircraft | Douglas DC-3s, Boeing 737 jetliners, Dornier 328 turboprops, Airbus A319, A320, McDonnell Douglas MD-80, British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 41 turboprop, Douglas DC-9-10, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30, DC-9-50 jets |
| Destinations | Atlanta, Asheville, Baton Rouge, Columbia, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Greenville/Spartanburg, Huntsville, Knoxville, Lafayette, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Louisville, Orlando, Sanford/Orlando, Savannah, Shreveport, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, Memphis, St Louis/Belleville, Tweed-New Haven Airport |
| Runway(s) | 2 |
| Runway Dimensions | 12,004 ft × 300 ft (3,659 m × 91 m), 10,012 ft × 300 ft (3,052 m × 91 m) |
| Surface | Asphalt/Concrete |
| Terminal Size | 116,000 sq ft (10,800 m2) |
| Gates | 8 |
| Gate Locations | 5 second-level, 3 ground-level |
What You'll Learn
Airlines: Delta, Vision, Allegiant, Avelo, Southern, and Republic
Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida. The airport is served by several airlines, including Delta, Vision, Allegiant, Avelo, Southern, and Republic.
Delta
Delta Air Lines operates flights to and from the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport. In 2010, Delta merged with Northwest Airlines, scaling back Northwest's hub operation in Memphis and offering nonstop flights to its hub in Atlanta. Delta also provides nonstop service between the airport and Atlanta.
Vision
Vision Airlines previously operated a small scheduled passenger hub at the airport, offering flights to various destinations across the United States, including Asheville, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, and Fort Lauderdale. However, Vision Airlines no longer serves the airport and has shut down its VPS hub.
Allegiant
Allegiant Air began scheduled service to VPS in 2016, offering flights from cities such as Cincinnati, Fort Lauderdale, and Knoxville. The Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport became a focus city for Allegiant at that time. In 2017, Allegiant announced a major expansion, establishing a new base of operations at the airport and offering nonstop service to eighteen domestic destinations.
Avelo
Avelo Airlines announced service to Tweed-New Haven Airport in Connecticut, starting in May 2024. Avelo's addition to the airport brings even more travel options and convenience for passengers visiting or departing from the Fort Walton Beach area.
Southern
Southern Airways, which later merged with North Central Airlines to form Republic Airlines in 1979, was the first airline to serve the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport. Southern Airways offered direct flights to Atlanta via Douglas DC-3s with several stops.
Republic
Following the merger of Southern Airways and North Central Airlines, Republic Airlines operated nonstop flights from VPS to several destinations, including Atlanta, Dothan, Mobile, and New Orleans. They utilized Douglas DC-9-10 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets for these routes.
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Runway and terminal details
Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. The airport has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, including the addition of a new terminal building in 1981 and the construction of a new runway in 2004. The airport serves as a hub for several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, and offers non-stop flights to several destinations across the United States.
The airport has one terminal building, which houses both domestic and international flights. The terminal is compact and easy to navigate, with all gates accessible from the main concourse. The walking time between gates is minimal, and there are no train or shuttle bus options available within the terminal. The baggage claim area is located on the lower level of the terminal, while the ticketing and check-in counters are on the upper level. The airport also offers free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal.
For travellers, the airport provides various ground transportation options, including car rentals, taxi services, shared ride services, airport shuttles, and public transportation. Major car rental providers such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National have counters in the baggage claim area. Short-term parking is available right across from the terminal, with reasonable rates for quick stays. For longer trips, off-airport parking lots offer a more affordable option, with shuttle services to and from the airport.
The airport has one runway designated 18/36 with a turf surface measuring 2,100 x 65 feet (640 x 20 m). The runway was constructed in 2004 as part of the airport's expansion and renovation projects.
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Location and distance from Fort Walton Beach
The closest airport to Fort Walton Beach is the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS), previously named the Northwest Florida Regional Airport. The airport is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is approximately 16 miles from Destin, which equates to around a 25-minute journey.
Eglin Air Force Base is a large base, covering 6,500 acres, and the airport shares two runways with the base. The airport's runways are asphalt and concrete, with the larger measuring 12,004 feet by 300 feet, and the smaller measuring 10,012 feet by 300 feet.
The airport has a substantial terminal building, with a total area of 116,000 square feet. This two-level terminal features areas for ticketing, baggage claim, and waiting, as well as concession areas. The first level of the concourse has three gates (A1, A2, and A3), while the second level has six gates (B1-B6).
In terms of distance from Fort Walton Beach, the airport is relatively close. While the exact distance is not readily available, the airport is adjacent to Valparaiso and near Fort Walton Beach. Given that Valparaiso is around 10 miles from Fort Walton Beach, the airport is likely within a similar distance, if not closer.
Another airport option, though much smaller, is the Fort Walton Beach Airport (FAA LID: 1J9). This airport is located in Navarre, Florida, which is approximately 30 miles from Fort Walton Beach. Covering only 15 acres, this airport is privately owned by John S. Williams and features a single runway with a turf surface.
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Previous names
Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) has had two previous name changes. The airport is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach, in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States.
The airport was previously named the Northwest Florida Regional Airport until February 17, 2015, when it changed its name to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport. Before that, it was known as the Okaloosa Regional Airport until September 2008. The airport covers 6,500 acres and shares two runways with Eglin AFB. The passenger terminal, which opened in November 2004, has five second-level gates and three ground-level commuter gates.
The airport's previous name, Northwest Florida Regional Airport, reflected its location in the northwestern part of Florida. The name change to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport was likely done to better associate the airport with its nearby destinations and to promote the region to potential visitors.
The airport's original name, Okaloosa Regional Airport, dated back to when the airport was first established. Okaloosa County is the name of the county in which the airport is located. The name change to Northwest Florida Regional Airport may have been done to broaden the airport's appeal to a wider region and to associate it with the popular tourist destination of Northwest Florida.
Fort Walton Beach Airport (FAA LID: 1J9) is a separate, smaller airport located in Navarre, Florida. This airport is privately owned by John S. Williams and covers an area of 15 acres. It is located approximately two miles east of the central business district of Navarre and is used for general aviation.
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Operations: commercial and non-commercial
Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, near Valparaiso, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida. The airport covers 6,500 acres and shares two runways with Eglin AFB. The airport's two-level passenger terminal, which opened in November 2004, has a total area of 116,000 sq ft and features five second-level gates and three ground-level commuter gates.
The airport was previously named Northwest Florida Regional Airport until February 17, 2015, when it changed its name to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport. Only commercial air traffic is allowed at this airport; non-commercial operations by general aviation and business aircraft must use the nearby Destin Executive Airport.
Commercial Operations
Commercial airlines serving Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport include Delta Air Lines, which operates nonstop flights to its hub in Atlanta, and Allegiant Air, which offers scheduled service to various destinations across the United States, including Cincinnati, Ft Lauderdale, Oklahoma City, Knoxville, Memphis, and St Louis/Belleville. In the past, the airport has also been served by other commercial carriers such as Vision Airlines and Contour Airlines.
Non-Commercial Operations
Non-commercial operations, including general aviation and business aircraft, are not permitted at Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport and must instead use the nearby Destin Executive Airport. However, prior to the airport's name change in 2015, there have been instances of non-commercial operations at the airport. For example, in 2002, the airport recorded 8,030 general aviation aircraft operations, averaging 22 per day.
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Frequently asked questions
The Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is located within Eglin Air Force Base, adjacent to the city of Valparaiso and near the cities of Destin and Fort Walton Beach, in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States.
The airport covers 6,500 acres and shares two runways with Eglin AFB: 12/30, which is 12,004 ft x 300 ft, and 02/20, which is 10,012 ft x 300 ft. The airport also has a 116,000 sq ft passenger terminal with five second-level gates and three ground-level commuter gates.
Airlines that have flown out of the airport include Southern Airways, Republic Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, Vision Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Contour Airlines.
