Airports Serving Panama City Beach, Florida: A Comprehensive Guide

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is the closest airport to Panama City Beach, Florida, located 18 miles from the city centre. The airport provides daily nonstop flights to and from several destinations in the United States, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Nashville, and St. Louis. Additionally, there are seasonal flights to other cities such as Dallas, Denver, and Washington, DC. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers convenient facilities for travellers, such as a variety of ground transportation options and efficient services, making it a convenient gateway to Panama City Beach and the surrounding areas.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP, ICAO: KECP, FAA LID: ECP) is the closest major airport to Panama City Beach, Florida. It is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City, in Bay County, and is about a 20-minute drive from Panama City Beach. The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport & Industrial District and is north of Panama City Beach, near West Bay.

The airport covers 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) of land and sits at an elevation of 68 feet (21 m). It has one runway, Runway 16/34, which is made of concrete and 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, a MALSR approach lighting system, centreline lights, and touchdown zone lights.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers daily flights to several destinations within the United States, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Tampa, and seasonal service to St. Louis. The airport has domestic flights from Panama City and does not currently have any scheduled international flights due to the small population in the surrounding areas and the primarily regional and national demand for travel to Panama City.

Several airlines serve the airport, including Delta, Southwest, United, Silver, American Eagle, PSA Airlines, and Mesa Airlines. The airport has seen an increase in passenger traffic in recent years, with its busiest years on record in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, the airport processed nearly 1.6 million passengers, an increase from 1.35 million in 2019.

18 miles from Panama City Beach

The closest airport to Panama City Beach, Florida, is the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). The airport is located 18 miles from Panama City Beach and offers daily flights to destinations worldwide. It is served by major airlines such as Delta, Southwest, United, and Silver.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport provides nonstop flights to several key cities across the United States, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Nashville, and St. Louis. These cities serve as connecting hubs, providing further access to airports across the U.S. and internationally. Additionally, seasonal and select flights are available to other destinations, such as Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, New York City, and Washington, DC.

The airport offers a range of ground transportation options for travellers. It hosts several rental car companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. For those who prefer not to drive, taxi, shuttle, and limo services are also available. Hotel shuttle services can be convenient for travellers staying in nearby accommodations.

Another notable feature of the airport is the Military Welcome Center. This dedicated space caters to active-duty military personnel, retired military members, and Department of Defense employees. It offers a quiet and relaxing environment while they wait for their flights or transportation. The centre is open daily and provides various amenities, including snacks, drinks, television, internet access, Wi-Fi, and a children's play area.

Daily nonstop flights to Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, etc

The closest airport to Panama City Beach, Florida, is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), which is around 18 miles or 20 minutes from the city. Major airlines such as Delta and Southwest Airlines provide daily nonstop flights to and from several destinations in the United States, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Nashville, and St. Louis. These cities also provide connections to airports across the world.

Delta Airlines offers daily nonstop flights to and from Atlanta, Georgia, with connections to other domestic and international destinations. Similarly, Southwest offers direct flights to Baltimore, Houston, Nashville, and St. Louis, with international connections. Southwest also recently introduced a nonstop service to Dallas Love Field.

United Airlines offers nonstop service to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, with two round trips per day as of March 2015.

In addition to these major airlines, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is serviced by United and Silver. The airport also provides expanded parking options, easy check-in and security lines, and free Wi-Fi, making it a convenient choice for business travellers.

Delta, Southwest, United, and Silver airlines

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (airport code ECP) is located 20 minutes from Panama City Beach in the centre of Northwest Florida. Delta, Southwest, United, and Silver Airlines offer flights to and from this airport.

Delta Airlines

Delta Air Lines offers flights to Panama City, Panama (PTY). The airline highlights the city's rich history, including the ruins of one of the oldest European settlements in North America, as well as its modern high-rise buildings. They also mention the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Panamá Viejo and Casco Viejo, and the Panama Canal as must-see attractions.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines serves Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, offering cheap flights from Panama City Beach to various destinations. They promote the ease of departing from this airport and the ability to explore new destinations and environments, such as the mountains or big cities. Southwest also encourages passengers to explore the local food scenes of their destinations.

United Airlines

United Airlines offers cheap flights to Panama City starting at $197. Their website mentions Washington, D.C. as one of the departure points for flights to Panama City.

Silver Airlines

While I could not find specific information about Silver Airlines' services to Panama City Beach, Florida, their website mentions that they offer "handcrafted service to over 100 destinations across the US, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, and the Caribbean." Therefore, it is likely that they provide services to Panama City Beach through Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

Ground transportation: rental cars, taxis, shuttles, and limos

Panama City Beach in Florida is a popular tourist destination, but it does not have its own airport. The closest airport is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). Located just 20 minutes from the beach, this modern airport offers a convenient and stress-free travel experience with easy parking options and reliable ground transportation.

When it comes to ground transportation, you have several options, including rental cars, taxis, shuttles, and ridesharing services. Here is some more information on each of these options:

Rental Cars

Rental car services are available at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. You can book a rental car in advance or upon arrival at the airport. This option provides you with flexibility and independence during your stay in Panama City Beach.

Taxis

Taxi services, such as Beachside Express, are also available at the airport. Beachside Express has been providing dependable and affordable transportation in the Panama City area since 2003. They operate out of both Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) and Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS).

Shuttles

Several companies offer airport shuttle services in the Panama City Beach area, including Beachside Express and Sunset Airport Transportation. These shuttle services provide convenient and reliable transportation to and from the airport. They are known for their punctuality and flexibility, ensuring a stress-free travel experience.

Ridesharing

Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are available at the airport. There is a designated Transportation Network Company pick-up area located across the street from the airport's main entrance. Signage is in place to direct passengers to this location, making it convenient for travellers to connect with their rides.

In addition to these ground transportation options, Panama City Beach is easily accessible by a system of major state highways, including U.S. Highway 98, which serves as the primary east-west route through the city, and State Road 79, which connects to Interstate 10 for travellers coming from the north.

Frequently asked questions