Roberta Aguirre
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (IATA: SRQ, ICAO: KSRQ, FAA LID: SRQ) is a public international airport located in Sarasota County, Sarasota, and Manatee County, Florida. The airport's IATA airport code, SRQ, is used as a general nickname for the city of Sarasota and the Sarasota area. The SRQ designation evolved from the pre-World War II, two-letter assigned codes of RS to its present global designation of SRQ. In the early days of aviation, radios were used for navigation, and as the industry grew, the need for coordinated codes arose. Sarasota's RS was changed to SSO, which was similar to the international distress code, SOS. Thus, the two letters SR were chosen, and the filter letter Q was added, resulting in SRQ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport |
| Airport Code | SRQ |
| Airport Code Evolution | RS (pre-World War II) to SSO (1948) to SRQ (1956) |
| Reason for Code Change | Similarity to international distress code, SOS |
| Airport Owner | Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority |
| Location | Sarasota County, Sarasota City, and Manatee County, Florida, US |
| Distance from Downtown Sarasota | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
| Distance from Bradenton | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Historical Events | Air Force One was present during the 9/11 attacks |
| Passenger Traffic | One of the fastest-growing airports pre-COVID-19 |
| Awards | 2024 Aviation Leadership Award |
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What You'll Learn
The airport's former name was Sarasota-Bradenton Airport
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, formerly known as Sarasota-Bradenton Airport, is located in Sarasota County, Florida. The airport is situated within three jurisdictions: Sarasota County, the city limits of Sarasota, and Manatee County. It is owned by the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority and is about three miles north of Downtown Sarasota and six miles south of Bradenton.
The airport was constructed to replace Lowe Field, which had poor conditions and low capacity. In the early days of 1939, government and business leaders from Sarasota and Manatee counties joined forces to build an airport that would serve the aviation needs of both counties. Construction of the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport began in 1939, and it opened the following year with the assistance of the CCC and WPA at a cost of $1 million. The airport was initially known as Sarasota-Bradenton Airport until 1956 when the word "international" was appended to its name.
In May 1941, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority was established. During the Second World War, the airport was leased to the Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot training base. The federal government invested millions of dollars in improvements and expanded the airport by an additional 250 acres. In the 1940s, the airport was designated by the two-character code "RS". However, as aviation demand surged, the IATA transitioned to three-character codes in 1948, and the airport was briefly assigned the code "SSO". This code was short-lived due to its resemblance to the international distress signal, SOS, and it was soon changed to "SRQ", with the "Q" serving as a filler.
The airport has a rich history, including notable events such as the presence of Air Force One during the September 11, 2001 attacks. President George W. Bush was at a nearby elementary school in Sarasota when he was informed of the attacks. He returned to the airport and departed on Air Force One, taking off from runway 14.
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SRQ is a three-letter code designation
The Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport, located in Sarasota County, Florida, has the three-letter airport code SRQ. This code is used as a general nickname for the city of Sarasota and the Sarasota area. SRQ is used by media outlets such as SRQ Magazine, WSRQ radio, and several local businesses.
The SRQ designation evolved from the pre-World War II, two-letter assigned codes of RS to its present global designation. In the early days of aviation, radios were used for navigation, and codes were assigned to each aviation facility. As the aviation industry grew, so did the need for coordinated codes. The International Transport Association (IATA) introduced new three-letter codes worldwide. By 1948, the use of these new codes was standard practice, and they were given to all cities with scheduled airline service and any associated navigational facilities.
Sarasota's RS was initially changed to SSO, which was considered very recognisable. However, pilots misinterpreted Sarasota’s designation of SSO for the international distress code, SOS. As a solution, IATA selected the two letters SR from the best-unassigned combination of recognisable letters to replace SSO, and the “filter” letter Q was added. Thus, around 1956, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport became SRQ.
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Sarasota's two-letter code was RS
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, located in Sarasota County, Florida, is known by the code SRQ. This three-letter designation has its roots in the pre-World War II era when two-letter codes were assigned to aviation facilities for navigation purposes. During this time, Sarasota's airport was known by the two-letter code RS.
The early days of aviation saw the use of radios for navigation, and with the growth of the aviation industry, the need for coordinated codes arose. Sarasota's two-letter code, RS, was one of the early designations. However, as aviation demand increased, the International Transport Association (IATA) introduced three-letter codes for cities with scheduled airline service and associated navigational facilities.
In the late 1940s, Sarasota's airport transitioned from the two-letter code RS to a three-letter designation. The airport was initially assigned the code "SSO", which was short-lived due to its resemblance to the international distress signal, SOS. Pilots misinterpreted Sarasota's designation as the distress code, leading to the need for a change.
To address this issue, IATA selected the two letters "SR" from the available unused codes, and added the "filter" letter "Q", resulting in the new code, SRQ. This change occurred around 1956, and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport officially adopted the SRQ designation.
The SRQ code has become a general nickname for the city of Sarasota and the surrounding area. It is used by various media outlets, such as SRQ Magazine, WSRQ radio, and local businesses that incorporate SRQ into their names. The evolution of Sarasota's airport code from RS to SRQ reflects the growth and adaptation of the aviation industry over time.
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The airport's IATA code is used as a nickname for Sarasota
Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport's IATA code is SRQ. The airport is located in Sarasota County, within the city limits of Sarasota, Florida. The airport's IATA code is used as a nickname for the city of Sarasota and the Sarasota area. This can be seen in local media outlets like SRQ Magazine, WSRQ radio, and numerous local businesses that include SRQ in their names.
The SRQ designation has evolved from the pre-World War II, two-letter assigned codes of RS to its present global designation of SRQ. In the early days of aviation, radios were used for navigation, and codes were assigned to each aviation facility. As the industry grew, the need for coordinated codes increased. The International Transport Association (IATA) introduced new three-letter codes worldwide. By 1948, the use of these new codes was standard practice, and they were given to all cities with scheduled airline service and any associated navigational facilities.
Sarasota's RS was changed to SSO, which was considered very recognizable. However, pilots misinterpreted Sarasota’s designation of SSO as the international distress code, SOS. The only difference was the length of the pause between the “O” and the “S”. As a solution, IATA selected the two letters SR from the best-unassigned combination of recognizable letters, and added the “filter” letter Q, creating the airport code SRQ.
SRQ Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is owned by the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority. The airport has seen rapid growth in passenger traffic in recent years, mainly due to Allegiant beginning service to the airport. In March 2025, 597,796 passengers travelled through the airport, an 8% increase, and the highest number of passengers per month in the airport's history.
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SRQ's first airline was National Airlines
The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, located in Sarasota, Florida, is designated by the airport code 'SRQ'. The origin of this unique code lies in the airport's history and the region it serves. 'SRQ' is derived from a combination of letters that were selected to represent the local area. While it is common for airport codes to be based on the city or region they serve, the choice of 'SRQ' for Sarasota may seem less obvious.
Now, regarding the airport's history with airlines, National Airlines holds a significant place as it was the first airline to operate from SRQ. National Airlines' presence at the airport dates back to its early years of operation. The airline played a pivotal role in establishing SRQ as a growing aviation hub and connecting the region to the rest of the country. National Airlines' services from SRQ offered passengers convenient travel options and contributed to the airport's development.
National Airlines' choice of SRQ as one of its destinations carried considerable weight in the airport's evolution. The airline's decision to serve SRQ helped elevate its status, transforming it from a purely general aviation airport to an airport serving commercial flights. This shift paved the way for other airlines to consider SRQ as a potential destination, fostering increased competition and providing passengers with a wider range of travel choices.
The entry of National Airlines into the market brought about positive changes for SRQ. It spurred infrastructure developments and improvements at the airport. To accommodate the operations of a commercial airline, enhancements were made to the airport's facilities and services. These upgrades included the construction of a terminal building, expansion of parking areas, and the introduction of various passenger amenities. The investments made during this period laid the foundation for the airport's future growth and enhanced its overall functionality and passenger experience.
National Airlines' presence at SRQ also had a significant impact on the region's accessibility and economic development. The airline provided direct connections to key destinations, making Sarasota and the surrounding areas more attractive to tourists and businesses. This improved connectivity boosted the local economy, encouraged business investments, and created employment opportunities. The influx of travelers also benefited local businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and tourism-related enterprises, contributing to the overall prosperity of the region.
Today, while National Airlines no longer operates, its legacy at SRQ remains. The airport has continued to grow and evolve, attracting other major airlines and establishing itself as a significant gateway to the Sarasota-Bradenton region. SRQ's rich aviation history, shaped by National Airlines' inaugural presence, continues to influence its present and future role as a vital transportation hub.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport's code is derived from the pre-World War II, two-letter assigned code "RS". In 1948, the International Transport Association (IATA) assigned new three-letter codes worldwide. Sarasota's RS was first changed to SSO, but this was soon misinterpreted as the international distress code, SOS. The letter Q was then added as a "filter" to create the airport's current code, SRQ.
As the aviation industry grew, there was a need for coordinated codes. By 1948, the use of three-letter codes had become standard practice.
The Q in SRQ is a "filler" or "filter" letter. Less commonly used letters like Q, Z, and X were added to two-letter codes to create unique three-letter combinations.
The airport became known as SRQ around 1956.
Before SRQ, the airport was designated RS, and then briefly as SSO.
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