Southwest Florida International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorLee County Port Authority
ServesSouthwest Florida
LocationUnincorporated Lee County, adjacent to Fort Myers
OpenedMay 14, 1983; 40 years ago (1983-05-14)
Operating base for
Elevation AMSL30 ft / 9 m
Coordinates26°32′10″N 081°45′19″W / 26.53611°N 81.75528°W / 26.53611; -81.75528
Websiteflylcpa.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 12,000 3,658 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft operations87,685
Passengers10,069,839
Total cargo (lbs)38,894,722
Source:[2]

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, FAA LID: RSW) is a major county-owned airport in the South Fort Myers area of unincorporated Lee County, Florida, United States. The airport serves the Southwest Florida region, including the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Naples-Marco Island, and Punta Gorda metropolitan areas, and is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry. It currently is the second-busiest single-runway airport in the United States, after San Diego International Airport.[3] In 2022, the airport served 10,343,802 passengers, the most in its history.

The airport sits on 13,555 acres (5,486 ha, 21.2 sq.mi.)[4][5] 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). 6,000 acres of the land has been conserved as swamp lands and set aside for environmental mitigation.[6]

History

Prior to the opening of the airport, the region was served by Page Field in Fort Myers. By the 1970s, however, it had become clear that Page Field would be too small to handle increasing future demand for commercial flights into the region. Expanding Page Field was determined to be impractical because 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.[7]

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 Parkway 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 Parkway, providing easy access (Interstate 75 was opened to traffic through Fort Myers in 1979).[8]

Construction of the airport began in 1980 and it opened on schedule on May 14, 1983. Upon opening, the airport was named Southwest Florida Regional Airport (the airport code RSW is short for "Regional South-West").[9] Originally, the airport included a single 8400-ft runway and a passenger terminal with 14 gates on two concourses. The original 1983 terminal was located on the north side of the runway at the end of Chamberlin Parkway.[10]

When the airport opened in 1983, Southwest Florida Regional Airport was served by Air Florida Commuter (operated by Finair Express), Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, Northwest Orient Airlines, Ozark Air Lines, Pan Am, Republic Airlines, and United Airlines.[11] Delta Air Lines operated the first flight. By 1985, American Airlines, People Express, Provincetown-Boston Airlines, Southern Express, and USAir were also serving the airport.[12]

In 1986, American Trans Air (later known as ATA) began service to Fort Myers with flights to Indianapolis International Airport, which was the first scheduled service for that airline.[13]

The airport was renamed Southwest Florida International Airport in 1993, though it had hosted international flights since 1984 and U.S. Customs since 1987. The name change coincided with the completion of a 55,000 square foot Federal Inspection facility annexed to the original terminal's Concourse A.[14] 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).[15]

In 1988 the airport exceeded its annual capacity of 3 million passengers; by 2004, the airport was serving nearly 7 million passengers annually. In 1998, the original terminal was expanded with a new wing added to Concourse B which included three additional gates, bringing the total to 17.[10]

In April 1994, LTU International introduced the following route: Munich–Düsseldorf–Fort Myers–Miami–Düsseldorf–Munich. This was Fort Myers' first flight to Europe.[16] It came in response to rising tourism from Germany, which Lee County had spent the past several years cultivating. The county considered Germany a natural market to target, given the sizable German-American community that lived in Southwest Florida and maintained ties with its country of origin.[17]

With the original 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 has three concourses and 28 gates. Demolition of the original terminal north of the airfield was completed in spring 2006. However, the original terminal's parking lot still stands at the end of Chamberlin Parkway. The former terminal's ramp, now known as North Ramp, is now primarily used as a base for Western Global Airlines, an Estero-based cargo airline.[18] 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.[19] Terminal Access Road was then expanded to six lanes in late 2016.[20]

Air Berlin, which had bought LTU, ceased service to Düsseldorf in October 2017.[21][22] The following May, Eurowings began routes to Düsseldorf, Munich, and Cologne using Airbus A330s.[23][24] The carrier subsequently dropped the flights to Munich and Cologne. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company suspended its link to Düsseldorf in March 2020.[25] Eurowings Discover launched a route to Frankfurt in March 2022.[26][27]

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 new air traffic control tower was expected to be completed by 2019, but the construction was delayed until its completion in December 2021 and opened in January of 2022.[28] However, the parallel runway was delayed indefinitely. The apron expansion and crossfield taxiway system were completed in late 2013. The entire project is estimated to cost $454 million.

In early 2018, the Lee County Port Authority (LCPA) announced plans to ease seasonal security wait times by consolidating the three individual concourse checkpoints to a single consolidated checkpoint for all concourses. By relocating the checkpoints, there will be more restaurants, shops, and post-security spaces. According to the announcement by the LCPA, this expansion could cost between $150 million – $180 million.[29] Construction of this expansion is currently underway. The airport is also planning to build another concourse (Concourse E) on the west side of the terminal by 2027.[30]

Plans are in place for Skyplex – a commercial and industrial park in the location of the former passenger terminal. Chamberlin Parkway is currently being realigned which will remove the roadway loop that once served the former terminal.[31] 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.[32][33]

Facilities

The entrance at the airport.
East Atrium
Main Terminal
Airfield
Runways
Activity[35]
Terminal
Parking
Awards

Terminal

The airport has one terminal with three concourses: Concourse B serves Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Eurowings, Frontier, Southwest, and Sun Country; Concourse C serves Delta, United, and WestJet; and Concourse D serves American, Breeze, JetBlue, and Spirit. Customs and Immigration services for international flights are located on the lower level of Concourse B. The concourses are each completely separate and are not currently connected Airside, though the expansion underway will consolidate the three checkpoints into one. Concourse E is planned to be added on the west side of the terminal by 2027. The Concourse A designation has been reserved for an eventual fifth concourse to be added on the east side of the terminal.[30]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Air Canada Rouge Toronto–Pearson [37]
Alaska Airlines Seasonal: Los Angeles, Seattle/Tacoma [38]
American Airlines Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Washington–National [39]
Avelo Airlines New Haven (CT), Raleigh/Durham, Wilmington (DE) [40]
Breeze Airways Charleston (SC), Hartford, Las Vegas, Providence
Seasonal: Akron/Canton, Bangor (begins October 5, 2024),[41] Columbus–Glenn, Lansing (begins October 2, 2024),[42] Louisville, Manchester (NH) (begins October 2, 2024),[43] New Orleans, Norfolk, Newburgh (begins October 2, 2024),[44] Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Syracuse, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (begins October 3, 2024)[45] 		[46]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia [47]
Discover Airlines Frankfurt [48]
Frontier Airlines Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth,[49] Denver, Philadelphia, San Juan (begins June 2, 2024)[49]
Seasonal: Buffalo, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Long Island/Islip, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Syracuse, Trenton[50] 		[51]
JetBlue Boston, Newark, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Washington–National, White Plains
Seasonal: Hartford, Worcester[52] 		[53]
Porter Airlines Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson [54]
Southwest Airlines Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Chicago–O'Hare, Columbus–Glenn, Dallas–Love, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Pittsburgh, St. Louis
Seasonal: Albany,[55] Buffalo,[56] Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Houston–Hobby, Kansas City, Louisville,[56] Minneapolis/St. Paul, Providence, Rochester (NY), Washington–National 		[57]
Spirit Airlines Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago–O'Hare, Detroit, San Juan (ends July 8, 2024)[58]
Seasonal: Charleston (SC), Columbus–Glenn, Indianapolis, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond 		[59]
Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul
Seasonal: Duluth, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee 		[60]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Cleveland, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Los Angeles, San Francisco 		[61]
WestJet Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Ottawa 		[62]

Cargo

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Express Memphis
UPS Airlines Huntsville, Jacksonville, Louisville
Western Global Airlines Anchorage, Charleston (SC), Greenville/Spartanburg, Los Angeles, Seoul-Incheon

Statistics

Since beginning commercial airline service on May 14, 1983 through the end of 2023, over 242 million passengers (enplaned and deplaned) have transited through RSW. There has been just over 3 million aircraft operations at the airport since its opening.

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from RSW (January 2023 – December 2023)[63]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, Georgia 474,000 Delta, Southwest
2 Illinois Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 359,000 American, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United
3 Minnesota Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota 313,000 Delta, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country
4 Michigan Detroit, Michigan 287,000 Delta, Spirit
5 New Jersey Newark, New Jersey 286,000 United, JetBlue
6 North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina 266,000 American
7 Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts 249,000 Delta, JetBlue, Spirit
8 Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 184,000 American, Frontier, Spirit
9 Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 175,000 American
10 Maryland Baltimore, Maryland 175,000 Southwest

Airline Market Share

Largest airlines at RSW
(July 2022 – June 2023)[64]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Delta Air Lines 2,022,000 22.65%
2 Southwest Airlines 1,692,000 18.95%
3 American Airlines 1,364,000 15.28%
4 United Airlines 1,259,000 14.11%
5 JetBlue 1,008,000 11.29%
Other 1,583,000 17.73%

Annual traffic

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Annual passenger traffic at RSW airport. See Wikidata query.
Annual passenger traffic (enplaned + deplaned), 1983–present[65]
Year Passengers Percent change Year Passengers Percent change Year Passengers Percent change Year Passengers Percent change Year Passengers Percent change
1983 594,185 Steady 1993 3,717,758 Increase 7.1% 2003 5,891,668 Increase 13.6% 2013 7,637,801 Increase 3.9% 2023 10,069,839 Decrease 2.6%
1984 1,311,937 Increase 120.8% 1994 4,005,067 Increase 7.7% 2004 6,736,630 Increase 14.3% 2014 7,970,493 Increase 4.3%
1985 1,701,969 Increase 29.7% 1995 4,098,264 Increase 2.3% 2005 7,518,169 Increase 11.6% 2015 8,371,801 Increase 5.0%
1986 2,129,548 Increase 25.1% 1996 4,317,347 Increase 5.3% 2006 7,643,217 Increase 1.7% 2016 8,604,673 Increase 2.8%
1987 2,687,053 Increase 26.2% 1997 4,477,865 Increase 3.7% 2007 8,049,676 Increase 5.3% 2017 8,842,549 Increase 2.8%
1988 3,115,124 Increase 15.9% 1998 4,667,207 Increase 4.2% 2008 7,603,845 Decrease -5.5% 2018 9,373,178 Increase 6.0%
1989 3,231,092 Increase 3.7% 1999 4,897,253 Increase 4.9% 2009 7,415,958 Decrease -2.5% 2019 10,225,180 Increase 9.0%
1990 3,734,067 Increase 15.6% 2000 5,207,212 Increase 6.3% 2010 7,514,316 Increase 1.3% 2020 5,978,414 Decrease 41.5%
1991 3,436,520 Decrease -8.0% 2001 5,277,708 Increase 1.4% 2011 7,537,745 Increase 0.3% 2021 10,322,434 Increase 72.7%
1992 3,472,661 Increase 1.1% 2002 5,185,648 Decrease -1.7% 2012 7,350,625 Decrease -2.5% 2022 10,343,802 Increase 0.2%

Accidents and incidents

Ground transport

LeeTran bus No. 50 serves the airport.

Infrastructure and road projects linked the airport's main terminal road to the southbound and northbound lanes of Interstate 75.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Breeze Airways names Fort Myers next 'base of operations'". April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "RSW Airport Statistics through 2023". flylcpa.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Davis, Rob (April 20, 2006). "Airport Questions Answered". Voice of San Diego. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for RSW PDF, effective December 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "Southwest Florida International Airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "Southwest Florida Transportation: Are We There Yet?". Gulfshore Life. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  7. ^ "Southwest Florida Regional Airport Environmental Impact Statement". 1977. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "Interstate 75". AA Roads. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  9. ^ "Airport Codes-RSW". Airport Codes. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "2004 Master Plan" (PDF). Southwest Florida International Airport. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Bickel, Mark H. (May 23, 2023). "40 facts with historic photos to celebrate RSW's 40th anniversary". The News-Press. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "RSW85intro". Departed Flights. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "American Trans Air". Airline Files. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "A History of Aviation in Lee County" (PDF). Southwest Florida International Airport. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "Southwest Florida International Airport" (PDF). Freight Moves Florida. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  16. ^ Winton, Pete (April 8, 1994). "Global flights begin at airport". The News-Press. Fort Myers, FL. pp. 1A, 16A.
  17. ^ Strother, Susan G (October 2, 1994). "Germans' love affair with Fort Myers sours". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "Estero-based Western Global Airlines announces Shreveport project". Estero Weekly. May 16, 2018. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "I-75onthego – I-75 Direct Connect". i75onthego.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  20. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ Ruane, Laura (December 22, 2017). "RSW airport's nonstop German service will return in May with more cities, seats". The News-Press. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  22. ^ "Loan allows Air Berlin to keep flights going through November". The News-Press. August 16, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  23. ^ Ruane, Laura (May 4, 2018). "Southwest Florida International greets Eurowings, return of German nonstops to Fort Myers". The News-Press. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  24. ^ "Budget German airline launches nonstop flights from Fort Myers to Europe". WINK. May 3, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  25. ^ Dorsey, David (March 13, 2020). "Airport steps up cleaning effort as pandemic threat increases". The News-Press. ProQuest 2377400121.
  26. ^ "Airline adds only non-stop flight to Germany from RSW". ABC7 News. March 31, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  27. ^ Cuadra, Marcello (March 28, 2022). "Eurowings makes inaugural trip to Southwest Florida International Airport". WINK. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  28. ^ "Southwest Florida Int'l Self-Funds New Control Tower | Airport Improvement Magazine".
  29. ^ "Fort Myers airport to expand terminal, consolidate TSA screening to cut waits". News-press.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  30. ^ a b Layden, Laura (June 1, 2022). "Port authority moves ahead with plans for new concourse at Southwest Florida International Airport". The News-Press. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  31. ^ "Road traffic patterns around airport to change due to construction". North Fort Myers Neighbor. March 17, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  32. ^ "Monthly Project Summary Report" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  33. ^ "Southwest Airlines informations". February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  34. ^ "Southwest Florida International Airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  35. ^ "Southwest Florida International Airport". Flylcpa.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  36. ^ "RSW Airport Annual Operations 1983-Present" (PDF). flylcpa.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  37. ^ "Flight Schedules". Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  38. ^ Airlines, Alaska. "New Alaska Airlines flights | Alaska Airlines". Alaska Airlines. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  39. ^ "American Airlines Map". Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  40. ^ "Avelo Airlines Postpones All New Fort Myers Routes, Suspends Chicago".
  41. ^ "Escape to Florida: Airline adds new options from Maine". WMTV. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  42. ^ "Breeze Airways to land in Lansing with new routes out of Capital Region International Airport". WLNS. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  43. ^ "Breeze Airways now offering nonstop flights from Manchester to Orlando, Charleston, and Fort Myers". Manchester Ink Link. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  44. ^ "Breeze Expands Reach to 56 Cities in 29 States". AirwaysMag. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  45. ^ "Breeze Airways announces new service from AVP to Fort Myers, beginning in October". The Times Tribune. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  46. ^ "Breeze Airways".
  47. ^ "Delta Airlines Map". Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  48. ^ "Eurowings Discover outlines seven new long-haul routes". Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  49. ^ a b "Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes, Expanding Operations Across 38 Airports". Benzinga. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  50. ^ "FLIGHTS FROM CITIES".
  51. ^ "Route Map-Frontier Airlines". Frontier Airlines. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  52. ^ "JetBlue and Massport Announce Two New Florida Destinations from Worcester". JetBlue Newsroom (Press release). April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  53. ^ "Route Map – JetBlue". www.jetblue.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  54. ^ "Where We Fly". Porter Airlines.
  55. ^ "Southwest Extends Flight Schedule through April 8, 2024". Southwest Media. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  56. ^ a b "Southwest Airlines Extends Flight Schedule Through March 6, 2024, and Adds New Seasonal Service". June 29, 2023.
  57. ^ "Southwest Airlines – Check Flight Schedules". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  58. ^ "Spirit Airlines June/July 2024 Puerto Rico Service Changes". Aeroroutes. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  59. ^ "Spirit Airlines – Route Map". www.spirit.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  60. ^ "Route Map – Sun Country Airlines". Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  61. ^ "U.S and International Route Maps – United Airlines". Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  62. ^ "Route map – WestJet official site". www.westjet.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  63. ^ "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)- U.S. Carriers". BTS, Transportation Statistics. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  64. ^ "RITA | BTS | Transtats". Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  65. ^ "Southwest Florida International Airport". flylcpa.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  66. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 122". Aviation Safety Network. November 28, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  67. ^ "Passenger lands turboprop plane after pilot dies". CNN. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
  68. ^ "'Time just continued growing': Flat tires forced passengers to face hours-long wait at RSW". Fort Myers News-Press. October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.

External links

Media related to Southwest Florida International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

Airports in Florida
Categories