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Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, located in Panama City, Florida, is assigned the airport code ECP. The airport is owned and operated by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District. The airport code ECP has been said to stand for Everyone Can Party, although it was originally chosen because it represents the Emerald Coast of the Panhandle.
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What You'll Learn
ECP stands for Emerald Coast of the Panhandle
The Emerald Coast spans about 100 miles along Scenic Highway 98, following the coastline of Florida's Panhandle. The region is known for its white sand beaches and emerald green waters, offering an idyllic beach getaway. The main airport servicing the Emerald Coast is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). The drive from the airport to Destin is about 1 hour, while Panama City Beach is only 20 minutes away.
The airport originally wanted to use the code TFB, which stood for "The Florida Beaches". However, this code was already in use by the Tifalmin Airport in Papua New Guinea. As a result, they chose the code ECP, which officially stands for Emerald Coast of the Panhandle. During the process of selecting a code, the phrase "Everyone Can Party" was jokingly associated with ECP, and this phrase has also become linked with the airport code.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport has a range of facilities and services. It has a concrete runway that is 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide, with advanced lighting systems to support aircraft operations. The airport offers nonstop flights to various destinations, including Charlotte Douglas (CLT) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). It also accommodates general aviation, with a variety of aircraft based at the airport for business and corporate purposes.
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The IATA code was originally supposed to be TFB
The IATA code for Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is ECP. The airport is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City, Florida, in Bay County. The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District and is north of Panama City Beach, near West Bay.
The airport covers 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) at an elevation of 68 feet (21 m). It is the first international airport in the United States that has been designed and built since the September 11 attacks. The airport opened for commercial flights on May 23, 2010, and has since seen an increase in passenger traffic, with its busiest years on record being 2021 and 2022.
While the airport currently has no scheduled international flights, it has been serving American Airlines non-stop flights to Charlotte Douglas (CLT) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) since June 7, 2018. These flights are operated by American Eagle regional carriers PSA Airlines and Mesa Airlines, respectively, with regional jets.
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The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, also known as ECP, is owned and operated by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District. The airport is located in unincorporated Bay County, Florida, and is approximately 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City. It is also about 20 minutes from Panama City Beach and is north of the city's main area.
The Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District, also referred to as the District, was established in 1967 by a special act of the Legislature. It has been recodified and amended several times since its inception, with the most recent amendments made in 2010. The District is governed by a seven-member board, with members appointed by various city and county commissions. These members are appointed for four-year terms, and they, in turn, elect the officers of the District from among themselves. It is worth noting that the District has no taxing power.
The airport itself opened for commercial flights in 2010 and is the first international airport in the United States that was designed and constructed after the September 11 attacks. While it has the capacity for international flights, there are currently 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's IATA code, ECP, has an interesting backstory. The original intention was to use TFB, representing "The Florida Beaches". However, this code was already in use by the Tifalmin Airport in Papua New Guinea. During the process of searching for an alternative, the code ECP was chosen, and it was jokingly decided that it could stand for "Everyone Can Party". This lighthearted interpretation stuck, and the airport code became synonymous with a fun and festive spirit.
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ECP is serviced by four major airline partners
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, also known as ECP, is serviced by four major airline partners. These include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. ECP is located in Bay County, Florida, and is approximately 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City. The airport is owned and operated by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District, which was established in 1967 by a special act of the Legislature in Florida.
ECP offers a range of facilities and services to its passengers. The airport has three restaurants, one of which is located outside security on the first floor, while the other two are situated post-security across from Gate 1 and on the lower level at Gates 6 and 7. Additionally, there is a conference room that can accommodate up to 40 people in a classroom-style setting. The airport also has a general aviation facility located south of the main passenger terminal, catering to a variety of aircraft, including single-engine, multi-engine, jets, and helicopters.
In terms of flight options, ECP provides nonstop, direct, and global connections. The airport experienced its busiest years in 2021 and 2022, with an increase in passenger traffic, processing nearly 1.6 million passengers in 2021. ECP has a single runway, Runway 16/34, which is concrete/grooved, 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) long, and 150 feet (46 meters) wide. There are plans to construct additional runways, including one crosswind and one parallel runway, to accommodate the growing air traffic.
The airport code ECP was chosen as it officially stands for "Emerald Coast of the Panhandle." However, the code also lends itself to the phrase “Everyone Can Party,” which was jokingly applied during its selection process.
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The airport's two busiest years were 2021 and 2022
ECP Airport, also known as Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City, Florida, in Bay County. The airport's IATA code, ECP, was originally supposed to be TFB ("The Florida Beaches"), but this code was already taken by Tifalmin Airport in Papua New Guinea. The code ECP was chosen instead, which officially stands for "Emerald Coast of the Panhandle". However, the phrase "Everyone Can Party" was also jokingly associated with the code during its selection.
The airport's two busiest years on record were 2021 and 2022, respectively. In 2021, the airport processed nearly 1.6 million passengers, an increase from 1.35 million in 2019. This rise in traffic was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a similar trend observed across other airports. In 2022, the airport saw just over 1.5 million passengers.
ECP Airport is owned and operated by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District (The Airport Authority). The airport covers 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) of land and features a single concrete/grooved runway that is 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide. There are plans to build additional runways as traffic increases.
While ECP Airport does not currently have any scheduled international flights due to the small population in the surrounding areas, it has been on a growth trajectory. In 2023, it was projected to have its busiest year ever, with expansions planned for its existing FBO, Shelt Air. The airport has also been the site of several notable incidents, including a crash in 2022 involving a Piper PA-28 aircraft that unfortunately resulted in two fatalities and one serious injury.
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Frequently asked questions
ECP, the IATA code for Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, officially stands for Emerald Coast of the Panhandle. However, the code was chosen after someone joked that it could stand for "Everyone Can Party".
ECP is located in Bay County, Florida, 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City.
ECP currently has only one runway. However, there are plans to build one crosswind and one parallel runway as traffic at the airport increases.
ECP is serviced by four major airline partners: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
There are three restaurants located at ECP: one outside security on the first floor, one across from Gate 1, and one on the lower level at Gates 6 and 7.
