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Palm Beach International Airport, also known as PBI Airport, is a public airport in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The airport has been around for nearly a century and has a rich history. It was first known as Morrison Field in 1936, named after Grace K. Morrison, who played a pivotal role in its development. The airport has been used for civilian and military purposes, with the U.S. Air Force utilising the facility during the Korean War in 1951. Palm Beach County regained control of the airport in 1959, and it has since undergone expansions and improvements to accommodate increasing aviation demands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) |
| Former Names | Morrison Field, Palm Beach Air Force Base |
| Location | Palm Beach County, Florida, US |
| Year of Construction | 1936 |
| Year of Expansion | 1966 |
| Year of Second Expansion | 1988 |
| Area | 1,500 acres |
| Number of Terminals | 2 |
| Number of Gates | 8 |
| Number of Fixed-Base Operators | 3 |
| Number of Airlines | 14 |
| Number of Destinations | 35+ |
| Longest Runway | 10,001 feet |
| Length of Baggage Track | 12,516 feet |
| Number of Parking Spaces | 173 |
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What You'll Learn
- Palm Beach International Airport opened in 1936 as Morrison Field
- The airport was used by the US Air Force during World War II and the Korean War
- Presidents Kennedy and Trump frequently visited Palm Beach
- The airport has been expanded and improved over the years
- Today, it is one of the busiest airports in the Miami area
Palm Beach International Airport opened in 1936 as Morrison Field
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is a public airport in Palm Beach County, Florida, located just west of the city of West Palm Beach. It is one of the three major airports with commercial airline service in the Miami metropolitan area. The airport is nearly 100 years old, having opened in 1936 as Morrison Field.
The airport was named after Grace K. Morrison, a pioneer in the early planning and organisation that led to the establishment of the field. Tragically, Morrison died in a car crash three months before the airport opened. The first flight to depart from PBI was an Eastern Airlines Douglas DC-2, bound for New York, with stops in Miami and 11 other cities. The entire trip took over 13 hours.
Morrison Field served commercial passengers for four years before the U.S. Army Air Corps began retrofitting it for military purposes, officially activating the site in 1941. During World War II, over 45,000 airmen were trained at or flew from the airport, and some fliers even took off from Morrison Field to Normandy during the D-Day Invasion. After the war, military operations were slowly transferred to Mobile, Alabama, and the airport was returned to the county for commercial use.
In 1948, the Board of County Commissioners voted to officially change the name from Morrison Field to Palm Beach International Airport. However, in 1951, during the Korean War, the airport was once again reactivated for military use and renamed Palm Beach Air Force Base. It was not until 1959 that Palm Beach County finally regained control of the airport, and it has operated as a civilian airport ever since.
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The airport was used by the US Air Force during World War II and the Korean War
The history of Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) dates back to the 1930s when it was known as Morrison Field. During World War II, the airport was used by the US Army Air Forces, playing a crucial role in the Allied war effort. In November 1940, the US Army Air Corps began converting Morrison Field for military use, and it was officially activated for military use in 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Morrison Field served as a training base and a staging ground for the Allied invasion of France during the D-Day landings in Normandy. It processed an enormous number of aircraft and personnel, with 6,200 planes and 45,000 fliers passing through the field in the month after the United States entered the war.
After World War II, the airport was deactivated, and ownership was returned to Palm Beach County in 1947. The county recognised the potential for long-term business and tourism growth, and in 1948, it was officially renamed Palm Beach International Airport. For the next few years, the airport operated solely as a civilian airport.
However, during the Korean War, the airport was once again reactivated for military use. In 1951, the US Air Force returned, and the airport was renamed Palm Beach Air Force Base. USAF operations occupied the north half of the airfield, while civilian operations and the airline terminal were relocated to the south side. The base was used extensively for training, with nearly 23,000 airmen receiving training at Palm Beach AFB during the Korean War. The Air Weather Service also used the base as headquarters for hurricane research, flying the first WB-50D Superfortress "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft from the base.
The US Air Force continued its presence at Palm Beach AFB until 1962, when the base was finally closed, and all property was conveyed back to Palm Beach International Airport. The airport then resumed its role as a civilian airport, serving the growing needs of Palm Beach County and the surrounding area.
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Presidents Kennedy and Trump frequently visited Palm Beach
Palm Beach International Airport, also known as PBI Airport, has a long history dating back to the 1930s. The airport was originally named Morrison Field in 1936, after Grace K. Morrison, who was instrumental in its development. It was later renamed Palm Beach Air Force Base when the US Air Force took control during the Korean War in 1951. The airport returned to civilian control in 1959 and has been a significant aviation hub in Florida ever since.
President John F. Kennedy and President Donald Trump have both frequently visited Palm Beach, often arriving at the Palm Beach International Airport. President Kennedy, who had a family estate on North Ocean Boulevard, spent a significant amount of time in Palm Beach during his presidency, with records indicating that he spent portions of at least 100 days in the area by April 1963. Kennedy's visits to Palm Beach included golfing outings, socialising, and working on his inaugural address. Air Force One was a common sight at the airport during his presidency.
President Trump, who purchased the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach in 1985, also frequently visited the area during his presidency. Trump has spent every Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago, which has been dubbed his "Winter White House." The Boeing 747s transporting President Trump to Palm Beach regularly parked on the south side of the airport, attracting onlookers.
While there are differences in their personalities and security protocols, both presidents have exhibited a penchant for golf during their visits to Palm Beach. Kennedy played golf on six consecutive days during an Easter stay in 1961, and Trump has visited the Trump International Golf Club in the area on numerous occasions. The frequent visits of these two presidents to Palm Beach have certainly left their mark on the history of the region and the airport.
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The airport has been expanded and improved over the years
The airport, which is nearly 100 years old, has been expanded and improved over the years. In 1936, the airport was named Morrison Field, after Grace K. Morrison, who played a pivotal role in its development. The airport's first flight was to New York and was serviced by an Eastern Airlines Douglas DC-2. The entire trip took over 13 hours.
In 1941, the airport was officially activated for military use, and it served as a base for bombers during World War II. After the war, in 1947, the airport was deactivated and returned to the county for commercial use, being renamed Palm Beach International Airport in 1948. However, in 1951, during the Korean War, the airport was reactivated for military use and renamed Palm Beach Air Force Base. It was finally closed as a military base in 1962 and conveyed to Palm Beach International Airport.
Expansion plans began in the 1960s, with a new terminal building and air traffic control tower being constructed. In 1966, an eight-gate Main Terminal opened, and in 1974, Delta Air Lines constructed a new terminal with the airport's first jetways. The airport has continued to undergo improvements, with Delta Airlines opening a new unit terminal in 1975, and the David McCampbell Terminal being dedicated in 1988.
Today, the airport is one of three major airports in the Miami metropolitan area, serving over 14 airlines and offering both domestic and international routes to more than 35 destinations. It has been ranked highly for its access, check-in, restaurants, shopping, and design, and continues to undergo multi-million-dollar modernization projects to improve the passenger experience.
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Today, it is one of the busiest airports in the Miami area
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is one of the busiest airports in the Miami area today, serving as the primary airport for Palm Beach County and its cities, including Boca Raton, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens. With a history spanning nearly a century, PBI has played a significant role in the region's aviation landscape.
PBI's journey began in the mid-1930s when it was known as Morrison Field, named after Grace K. Morrison, who was instrumental in its development. The airport commenced operations in 1936, with Eastern Air Lines operating the first commercial flight to New York, stopping in Palm Beach and 11 other cities. This inaugural flight marked the beginning of PBI's evolution into a bustling aviation hub.
Over the years, PBI has undergone several transformations and expansions to accommodate growing demand. In the 1950s, the airport witnessed the entry of additional airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Capital Airlines, and United. The expansion continued into the 1960s, with the construction of new terminals and facilities, including the Main Terminal in 1966, solidifying PBI's position as a significant aviation gateway.
The airport's convenient location, just over an hour north of Miami International Airport, has made it a preferred choice for travellers seeking a less crowded alternative to the busier neighbouring airports. Today, PBI is served by 14 airlines, offering both domestic and international routes to more than 35 destinations. The airport's recent accolades, including being ranked as the third-best domestic airport in the US by Travel+Leisure in 2024, attest to its modern facilities and efficient operations.
PBI continues to undergo modernization and improvement projects, such as the expansion of Concourse B, to enhance the passenger experience and meet the evolving needs of travellers in the Miami area and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
Palm Beach Airport, also known as Palm Beach International Airport, was built in 1936.
The first flight to depart from Palm Beach Airport was a New York-bound Eastern Air Lines DC-2 in 1936. The first route was from Miami to New York, with stops in Palm Beach and 11 other cities. The entire trip took more than 13 hours.
Palm Beach Airport has been used for both civilian and military purposes. It was first known as Morrison Field, named after Grace K. Morrison, who played a major role in its development. During World War II, it was used by the military and renamed Palm Beach Air Force Base. After the war, it was returned to the county for commercial use and renamed Palm Beach International Airport. The airport has undergone several expansions and improvements over the years and is currently one of the busiest airports in the Miami metropolitan area.
