Airport Services: St. Petersburg, Florida — The Ultimate Guide

St. Petersburg, Florida, is served by two airports: St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Albert Whitted Airport. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is a small airport located in Pinellas County, Florida, offering a range of passenger services to ensure a comfortable and convenient travel experience. These services include free Wi-Fi, a children's play area, and special-needs services such as wheelchair assistance. The airport is easily accessible via the Gateway Express road and offers both short-term and long-term parking options. With 25 airlines serving the airport, passengers can enjoy non-stop flights to over 60 destinations. Albert Whitted Airport, on the other hand, is a public airport located on the west edge of Tampa Bay, providing various aviation services such as fuelling, storage, maintenance, flight training, and rentals. It also offers sightseeing tours and supports medical transport services. While Albert Whitted Airport does not offer commercial airline services, it is recognised as the birthplace of scheduled commercial airline flight.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

The airport offers various amenities, including a children's play area near the food court, free Wi-Fi, and special-needs services such as wheelchair assistance and accessible parking. Additionally, PIE provides a lost and found office located on the first floor of the terminal building. Passengers can easily check their flight status through the Flight Information Display System (FIDS) or via airline mobile phone apps.

PIE offers both short-term and long-term parking options, including a parking garage and off-airport parking with shuttle services. The Gateway Express road project has improved access to the airport by adding express toll lanes and a direct exit to the airport.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport also provides foreign language assistance, with translation services available in the Airport Reception Office and at the Visitor Information Booth near Baggage Claim. ATMs and currency exchange services are also conveniently located within the airport.

Albert Whitted Airport

The airport is named after Albert Whitted, who introduced the people of St. Petersburg to flying in 1919. Whitted designed and built his own plane, the "Bluebird", and took people up for free. He also designed and built another plane, the Falcon, which was used in a commercial flying business with his brother, Clarence. Unfortunately, Whitted and four passengers were killed in a crash in 1923. The airport, previously known as Cook-Springstead tracks, was renamed Albert Whitted Airport in October 1928.

Today, Albert Whitted Airport offers a range of activities and opportunities for visitors and residents. In addition to the aviation services mentioned, the airport provides sightseeing tours by helicopter or historic biplane, fine dining at the Hangar Restaurant, and youth programs. The airport is also home to the National Airlines Museum, and the Preservation Society offers airport tours, an education centre, and special events. Albert Whitted Park, part of the city's waterfront park system, is located on the north side of the airport.

Aviation services

St. Petersburg, Florida, is served by two airports: St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Albert Whitted Airport.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is located in Pinellas County, Florida, and offers both domestic and international flights. The airport provides a range of passenger services, including free Wi-Fi, a children's play area, and special-needs services such as wheelchair assistance and accessible parking. The airport also has short-term and long-term parking options, a parking garage, and off-airwater parking with shuttle services.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is easily accessible via the Gateway Express road, which offers express toll lanes and a direct exit to the airport. The airport is served by 25 airlines and offers non-stop service to over 60 destinations. To accommodate the increasing demand, the airport has approved a $110 million expansion project, which includes adding two gates, seven passenger-loading bridges, restrooms, and concessions.

Albert Whitted Airport

Albert Whitted Airport is a public airport located on the west edge of Tampa Bay, just southeast of downtown St. Petersburg. It provides various aviation services, including fuelling, storage, parking, maintenance, flight training, charter and rentals, avionics, and sightseeing tours. The airport is home to businesses such as St. Pete Air Flight School, Tampa Bay Aviation, Sheltair Aviation Services, and The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge. Albert Whitted Airport also supports Civil Air Patrol, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Bayflite Medivac, and other medical transport services.

Albert Whitted Airport offers a range of activities for visitors and residents, including helicopter and historic biplane sightseeing flights, dining specials, airport tours, and the National Airlines Museum. The airport has a unique history, as it is recognised as the birthplace of scheduled commercial airline flight. On January 1, 1914, the first scheduled commercial aircraft flight in history took off from downtown St. Petersburg.

Airport amenities

St. Petersburg, Florida, is served by two airports: St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Albert Whitted Airport.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

St. Petersburg's primary airport, PIE, is located in Pinellas County and offers a range of amenities and services to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free travel experience. The airport provides free Wi-Fi, a children's play area, and special-needs services, including wheelchair assistance and accessible parking. PIE also has short-term and long-term parking options, a parking garage, and off-airport parking with shuttle services.

The airport is easily navigable with its single terminal design. It offers a variety of dining and shopping options, including restaurants, bars, shops, and newsstands. PIE provides a convenient way to stay updated on flight statuses through its Flight Information Display System (FIDS) and supports various mobile apps for real-time alerts.

Additionally, PIE offers non-stop service to over 60 destinations and is served by 25 airlines, providing multiple options for travellers. The airport is also improving its facilities, with a $110 million expansion project underway to enhance passenger amenities, add gates, and expand parking facilities.

Albert Whitted Airport

Albert Whitted Airport is a public airport located on the west edge of Tampa Bay, offering various aviation services. It provides fuelling, storage, parking, maintenance, flight training, charter and rental services, avionics, and sightseeing tours. The airport does not offer commercial airline services but supports medical transport services and the Civil Air Patrol.

The airport features a full-service restaurant, The Hangar, located on the second floor of the Galbraith Terminal, offering dining specials and flight packages. Additionally, Albert Whitted Airport provides opportunities for visitors and residents, including helicopter and historic biplane sightseeing flights, fine dining, and youth programs. The Preservation Society offers airport tours, an education centre, and the National Airlines Museum.

Airport history

St. Petersburg, Florida, is serviced by St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, also known as St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport. Construction of the airport at its present site started in March 1941. The airport was originally called Pinellas International Airport and was given the IATA designation PIE, which it still uses today. The airport is located in Pinellas County, Florida, and is approximately 14km (9 miles) north of downtown St. Petersburg.

The airport has a rich history, dating back to the early days of commercial aviation. In 1914, just a decade after the Wright brothers' first flight, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line sold the first ticket for air travel to a fare-paying passenger. This marked the beginning of commercial air transportation. The airport was acquired by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and was used as a military flight training base. After the war, the airport was returned to Pinellas County and operated as a civil airport.

In the 1950s and 1960s, several major U.S. airlines served the airport, including Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, National Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. During this time, the airport offered nonstop flights to destinations beyond Florida, such as Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Nassau, Bahamas. In 1958, the airport changed its name to St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport, as tourists were unfamiliar with the location of Pinellas County. The airport was also the original home to two of the first scheduled air freight airlines in the United States: U.S. Airlines and Aerovias Sud Americana (ASA International Airlines).

Today, the airport continues to serve the Tampa Bay Area, offering low-cost flights to destinations across the United States. It is a small-hub primary commercial service facility, handling over one million passengers in 2014. The airport is also home to various aviation services, including fueling, storage, parking, maintenance, flight training, charter and rentals, avionics, and sightseeing tours.

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