Airports In Northern Florida: A Comprehensive Guide

Florida is a major tourist destination, with its beaches and amusement parks attracting thousands of visitors from around the world each year. The state has superior air connectivity, with numerous international and domestic airports. Northern Florida is served by several airports, including Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Northeast Florida Regional Airport, and Jacksonville International Airport. The region is also within easy reach of some of the state's busiest airports, including those in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.

Northeast Florida Regional Airport

The history of the airport dates back to World War II when, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US Navy took over the airfield and renamed it. During the war, improvements were made, including additional runway and hangar construction, support facilities, and a control tower. After the war, the Navy reduced operations, and in May 1946, the airport was returned to the city. In the postwar period, St. Augustine Airport became a scheduled stop for two passenger airlines. However, due to subsidy cutbacks, these feeder airlines eventually ceased operations, and by 1950, the airport fell into disuse.

In the 1990s, the airport underwent significant improvements, including remodeling and expanding its terminal building. This added various amenities such as office space, a pilot briefing area, a pilot lounge with shower facilities, ticket counters, waiting and baggage areas, conference facilities, and a second-story restaurant called the Fly-By Cafe, which opened in 1997.

More recently, in 2016, a new 23,305-square-foot terminal building was constructed to accommodate increased passenger service. This modern terminal can handle four passenger gates and provides convenient car rental and parking options for travellers. The airport's control tower is now a full-time operation under the FAA's Contract Tower Program, controlling a Class D Airspace service area within a specified radius and altitude.

Looking ahead, the Northeast Florida Regional Airport is set to undergo major upgrades to meet the growing demand for air travel in the region. These improvements include relocating roads, introducing state-of-the-art facilities, and accommodating bigger, more modern aircraft.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport

Florida is a US state that is home to numerous beaches and amusement parks, attracting thousands of travellers from around the world each year. The state has superior air connectivity, with many international and domestic airports. The busiest airports in Florida are Miami International, Orlando International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, and Tampa International.

One of the airports in northern Florida is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP). It is a public airport located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City, in Bay County, Florida, United States. The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport & Industrial District and is north of Panama City Beach, near West Bay. It is about 20 minutes from Panama City Beach and sits on 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) of land, at an elevation of 68 feet (21 m).

The airport currently offers daily flights to destinations around the world through airlines like Delta, Southwest, United, and Silver. These include nonstop flights to Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa, as well as seasonal service to St. Louis. In 2018, American Airlines also began offering nonstop flights to Charlotte Douglas (CLT) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), with two flights per day to each destination.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

The airport operates four terminals with 66 gates, with another terminal under construction as of 2024. Terminal 1, previously known as the Yellow Terminal, contains Concourses A, B, and C and has 23 gates. Terminal 4, which opened in 1983, is currently undergoing renovations and a major expansion. Terminal 5, announced in 2023, is expected to be completed by mid-2026. The new terminal will feature five new domestic gates, check-in and baggage areas, security screening, and a variety of retail and food services.

Jacksonville International Airport

Florida is home to numerous beaches and amusement parks, attracting thousands of travellers from around the world every year. The state has superior air connectivity, provided by its many international and domestic airports. The busiest airports in Florida are Miami International, Orlando International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, and Tampa International.

The airport has a Delta Sky Club on Concourse A and a multi-airline passenger club located behind the airside food court. There are three galleries located off of the main courtyard before the security checkpoint. One features an art exhibit, the second features a revolving exhibit about a Jacksonville-area landmark or institution, and the third houses a permanent exhibit on the history of aviation in the region.

In the fiscal year 2023, the airport handled 7,306,171 passengers, a 14.4% increase from the previous year. The airport has direct public transit service to Jacksonville Transportation Authority's bus network. The Route 1 bus connects the airport to downtown Jacksonville, with connections to Greyhound Bus Lines and the Jacksonville Skyway monorail system.

Tampa International Airport

The airport has a long history, with airlines Eastern Air Lines and National Airlines moving to Drew Field from Peter O. Knight Airport in the mid-1940s. The former airport was too small to handle the Douglas DC-4, DC-6, and Lockheed Constellation prop-liners that were coming into use at the time. In 1950, Trans Canada Airlines began offering international flights from the airport, which was then known as Drew Field. The airport was renamed Tampa International Airport.

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