Southwest Florida International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Lee County
Operator Lee County Port Authority
Serves Fort Myers, Florida
Location South Fort Myers, Florida
Focus city for Sun Country Airlines
Elevation AMSL 30 ft / 9 m
Coordinates 26°32′10″N 081°45′19″W / 26.53611°N 81.75528°W / 26.53611; -81.75528
Website flylcpa.com
Map
RSW
RSW

Location of airport in Florida / United States

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 12,000 3,658 Asphalt
Statistics (2013)
Aircraft operations 100,000
Passengers 8,604,673 ('16)
Total Cargo (Lbs) 32,156,880
Source:

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, FAA LID: RSW) is a county-owned airport in the South Fort Myers region of unincorporated Lee County, Florida. The airport's market is Southwest Florida: Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Captiva Island, Estero, Fort Myers, Marco Island, Naples and Sanibel Island. In 2015 passengers numbered 8,371,801. The airport is the second busiest single-runway airport in the United States after San Diego International Airport.[1] It is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry.

The airport sits on 13,555 acres of land just southeast of Fort Myers, making it the third-largest airport in the United States in terms of land size (after Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth). Though, 6,000 acres of the airport's land includes swamp land that has been set aside for environmental mitigation.[2] The airport code RSW means "Regional South-West" (for Southwest Florida Regional Airport). In 1993 the Lee County Port Authority renamed it Southwest Florida International Airport.

History

RSW was conceived in 1973 when it was clear that the existing airport in Fort Myers, Page Field, was too small to handle increasing numbers of commercial flights. The need for a larger airport became even more necessary after deregulation of the airline industry in 1978. Expanding Page Field was determined to be impractical since its airfield was constrained by U.S. 41 to the west and expanding the airfield to the east would require bridging the Ten Mile Canal and relocating a railroad track.[3]

A number of sites were considered for a new regional airport, including southern Charlotte County, Estero, and northeast Cape Coral near Burnt Store Marina. The government of Lee County ultimately selected a site near the end of Daniels Road which was a dirt road at the time. An advantage to this location was its proximity to Interstate 75, which was under construction and would have an interchange with Daniels Road, providing easy access (Interstate 75 was opened to traffic through Fort Myers in 1979).[4]

Groundbreaking was in 1980, and Southwest Florida Regional Airport opened on schedule, May 14, 1983, with a single 8400-ft runway. Delta Air Lines operated the first flight. The original terminal was located on the north side of the runway at the end of Chamberlin Parkway.

The airport was renamed Southwest Florida International Airport in 1993, though it had hosted international flights since 1984 and U.S. Customs since 1987, mainly for flights to Germany. The name change coincided with the completion of a 55,000 square foot Federal Inspection facility annexed to the original terminal's Concourse A.[5] The runway was also lengthened to 12,000 ft (3,658 m) at the same time to better accommodate international service (making it the fourth-longest runway in Florida).[6] The airport has hosted Boeing 747s (including Air Force One), but as of 2009 the largest aircraft scheduled to RSW are the Airbus A330-200s on Air Berlin non-stop flights to Düsseldorf, the Airbus A330-300 seasonally to Minneapolis/St. Paul and the Boeing 767-300s operated by Delta Air Lines non-stop from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Atlanta, and Detroit .

In 1988 the airport exceeded its annual capacity of 3 million passengers; by 2004, the airport was serving nearly 7 million passengers annually. The original terminal had 17 gates on two concourses. While three of the gates were added in a minor expansion of the B concourse in the late 1990s, the original terminal's design was not conducive to a major expansion.

With the terminal operating at more than double its intended capacity, construction of a new Midfield Terminal Complex began in February 2002. The $438 million terminal opened on September 9, 2005. The terminal, designed by Spillis Candela/DMJM Aviation,[7] has three concourses and 28 gates and can eventually expand to five concourses with 65 gates. Demolition of the former terminal north of the airfield was completed in spring 2006.

In early 2015, Terminal Access Road, the airport's main entrance road, was extended past Treeline Avenue to connect directly to Interstate 75, allowing airport-related traffic to avoid local streets. The airport can now be accessed directly from the freeway at Exit 128.[8] Terminal Access Road was then expanded to six lanes in late 2016.[9]

Current and future projects

A new $16 million Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting facility (Lee County Station 92) opened in July 2013. A 9,100 ft (2,800 m) parallel runway is in planning. The project includes a relocated air traffic control tower, apron expansion, crossfield taxiway system, mitigation activities and FPL electrical line relocation. The apron expansion and crossfield taxiway system were completed in late 2013. The entire project is estimated to cost $454 million.

Plans are in place for Skyplex – a commercial and industrial park in the location of the old terminal. Other airport-related businesses, such as a hotel, are in the planning stages. A retail gasoline outlet near the airport's entrance opened in June 2014.[10][11]

Facilities

An overhead view of Southwest Florida International Airport
East Atrium
Main Terminal

The airport covers 13,555 acres (54.9 km2), 10 mi (16 km) southeast of Fort Myers.

Runways
Activity[12]

In 2011 the airport had 83,385 aircraft operations, average 228 per day.

Terminal
Parking
Awards

Terminals

The airport has one terminal with three concourses: Concourse B (Gates B1-B9), Concourse C (Gates C1-C9), and Concourse D (Gates D1-D10). Customs and Immigration services for international flights are located on the lower level of Concourse B. "Concourses A and E" designations have been reserved for the planned future expansion of the terminal.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Air Berlin Düsseldorf [13]
Air Canada Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau (resumes December 14, 2017)
Air Canada Rouge Toronto–Pearson [14]
American Airlines Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia
Seasonal: Washington–National 		[15]
American Eagle Washington–National [15]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia
Seasonal: New York–JFK 		[16]
Delta Connection Seasonal: Boston, Cincinnati, Columbus–Glenn, Indianapolis, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Raleigh/Durham (resumes December 23, 2017; ends January 2, 2018) [16]
Eurowings
operated by SunExpress Deutschland 		Seasonal: Cologne/Bonn (begins May 4, 2018),[17] Munich (begins May 1, 2018)[17] [18]
Frontier Airlines Buffalo (begins December 10, 2017),[19] Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City (begins December 10, 2017), Long Island/Islip (begins October 5, 2017), Philadelphia (begins October 5, 2017), Providence (begins October 6, 2017)
Seasonal: Colorado Springs (begins October 5, 2017) Columbus–Glenn, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville (begins October 6, 2017),[20] St. Louis 		[21]
JetBlue Airways Boston, Hartford, Newark, New York–JFK, Washington–National, White Plains [22]
Silver Airways Key West, Nassau, Orlando [23]
Southwest Airlines Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Columbus–Glenn, Hartford, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis
Seasonal: Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Denver, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, Providence, Washington–National 		[24]
Spirit Airlines Atlantic City, Chicago–O'Hare, Detroit
Seasonal: Akron/Canton, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Hartford (begins November 9, 2017),[25] Latrobe/Pittsburgh, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pittsburgh (begins November 9, 2017) 		[26]
Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul, San Juan [27]
United Airlines Houston–Intercontinental, Newark
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Cleveland, Denver 		[28]
United Express Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark [28]
WestJet Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Ottawa 		[29]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
FedEx ExpressMemphis
UPS AirlinesFort Lauderdale, Louisville

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from RSW
(Apr 2016 – Mar 2017)[30]
Rank City (Airport) Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, Georgia 574,120 Delta, Southwest
2 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 293,810 American, Spirit, United
3 Detroit, Michigan 275,500 Delta, Frontier, Spirit
4 Newark, New Jersey 265,110 JetBlue, United
5 Boston, Massachusetts 241,310 Delta, JetBlue, Spirit
6 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota 226,080 Delta, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country
7 Charlotte, North Carolina 225,110 American
8 Baltimore, Maryland 200,880 Southwest, Spirit
9 Chicago–Midway, Illinois 169,590 Southwest
10 New York–JFK, New York 138,770 Delta, JetBlue
Busiest international routes from RSW (2014) [31]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Toronto, Canada 133,534 Air Canada, WestJet
2 Düsseldorf, Germany 39,891 Air Berlin
3 Montréal, Canada 5,713 Air Canada
4 Ottawa, Canada 4,165 WestJet
Largest airlines at RSW
(Apr 2016 – Mar 2017)[32]
Rank Airline Share
1 Southwest Airlines 22.64%
2 Delta Air Lines 21.71%
3 American Airlines 14.97%
4 JetBlue 14.13%
5 Spirit Airlines 8.95%

Annual traffic

Annual passenger traffic (enplaned + deplaned), 1983 - May 2017[33]
Year Passengers Year Passengers Year Passengers Year Passengers
1983544,63619933,717,75820035,891,66820137,637,801
19841,311,93719944,005,06720046,736,63020147,970,493
19851,701,96919954,098,26420057,518,16920158,371,801
19862,129,54819964,317,34720067,643,21720168,604,673
19872,687,05319974,477,86520078,049,67620175,281,595
19883,115,12419984,667,20720087,603,845
19893,231,09219994,897,25320097,415,958
19903,734,06720005,207,21220107,514,316
19913,436,52020015,277,70820117,537,745
19923,472,66120025,185,64820127,350,625

Accidents and incidents

Ground transport

LeeTran bus No. 50 serves the airport.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Rob (20 April 2006). "Airport Questions Answered". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Southwest Florida Transportation: Are We There Yet?". Gulfshore Life. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Southwest Florida Regional Airport Environmental Impact Statement". Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Interstate 75". AA Roads. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "A History of Aviation in Lee County" (PDF). Southwest Florida International Airport. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "Southwest Florida International Airport" (PDF). Freight Moves Florida. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Ready for Takeoff?". Southeast Construction. September 11, 2001. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ "I-75onthego - I-75 Direct Connect". i75onthego.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Southwest Florida International Airport". Flylcpa.com. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Route Network - airberlin.com". www.airberlin.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Flight Schedules". Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Flight schedules and notifications". Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  16. 1 2 "FLIGHT SCHEDULES". Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  17. 1 2 Ruane, Laura (7 July 2017). "RSW airport to gain nonstop flights to German cities of Munich, Cologne in May 2018". www.news-press.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  18. ↑ "Route Network - Information - Eurowings". eurowings.com. Eurowings GmbH. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  19. ↑ "Blockbuster expansion: Frontier to add 21 cities, 85 routes". Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  20. ↑ "Blockbuster expansion: Frontier to add 21 cities, 85 routes". Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  21. ↑ "Route Map-Frontier Airlines". Frontier Airlines. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  22. ↑ "JetBlue - Where We Jet: Flight Destinations". www.jetblue.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  23. ↑ "Route Map Silver Airways". www.silverairways.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  24. ↑ "Check Flight Schedules". Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  25. ↑ http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20170615/spirit-airlines-to-launch-nonstop-service-from-bradley-to-fort-myers-tampa
  26. ↑ "Spirit Airlines - Route Map". www.spirit.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  27. ↑ "Sun Country Airlines-Route Map". sy.fltmaps.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  28. 1 2 "Timetable". Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  29. ↑ "Route map - WestJet.com". www.westjet.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  30. ↑ "RITA | BTS | Transtats". Transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved June 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  31. ↑ "U.S.-International Passenger Data for Year To Date/Calendar Year 2013". Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  32. ↑ "RITA - BTS - Transtats". bts.gov. Retrieved June 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  33. ↑ "Southwest Florida International Airport". flylcpa.com. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  34. ↑ "The First 24 Hours". The News-Press. 9 September 2005.
  35. ↑
  36. ↑ "Passenger lands turboprop plane after pilot dies". CNN. April 13, 2009.

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