Southwest Florida International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO: KRSW, FAA LID: RSW) is a major county-owned airport in the South Fort Myers region 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.[2] In 2019, the airport served 10,225,180 passengers, the most in its history.

Southwest Florida International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerLee County
OperatorLee County Port Authority
ServesFort Myers, FL
LocationUnincorporated Lee County, adjacent to Fort Myers
Hub forWestern Global Airlines
Elevation AMSL30 ft / 9 m
Coordinates26°32′10″N 081°45′19″W
Websiteflylcpa.com
Maps

FAA Airport diagram
RSW
Location of airport in Florida / United States
RSW
RSW (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 12,000 3,658 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Aircraft operations85,227
Passengers10,225,180
Total Cargo (Lbs)35,681,409
Source:[1]

The airport sits on 13,555 acres (5,486 ha, 21.2 sq.mi.)[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

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).[6]

Construction of the airport began in 1980, and it opened on schedule on May 14, 1983, with a single 8400-ft runway. At the time of its opening, the airport was named Southwest Florida Regional Airport (the airport code RSW is short for "Regional South-West").[7] 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. The name change coincided with the completion of a 55,000 square foot Federal Inspection facility annexed to the original terminal's Concourse A.[8] 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).[9]

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,[10] 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. However, the original terminal's parking lot and other related infrastructure still stand 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.[11]

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.[12] Terminal Access Road was then expanded to six lanes in late 2016.[13]

Since beginning commercial airline service on May 14, 1983 through the end of 2019, over 205.5 million passengers (enplaned and deplaned) have transited through RSW. There has been over 2.67 million aircraft operations at the airport since its opening.

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 and parallel runway were expected to be completed by 2019, however this has been pushed back to late 2020. 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 expanding and relocating the current security checkpoints for each concourse. By relocating each checkpoint, 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.[14]

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.[15] [16]

Facilities
An overhead view of Southwest Florida International Airport
East Atrium
Main Terminal
Airfield
  • The airport covers 13,555 acres (54.9 km2), 10 mi (16 km) southeast of Fort Myers.[3]
Runways
Activity[17]

In 2019 the airport had 85,227 aircraft operations, average 233 per day.

Terminal
  • 798,000 sq ft (74,100 m2)
  • Design capacity is 10 million passengers per year, with 28 gates on 3 concourses (current B,C and D). The terminal buildings can be expanded incrementally to 65 gates on 5 concourses (A-E).
Parking
  • 11,250 spaces for hourly/daily parking located around the main terminal building and the entrance to the facility.
  • There is a three-story parking structure adjacent from the main terminal, used to house short-term parking.
  • 30-space "cell-phone lot" for customers picking up arriving passengers.
Awards
  • J.D. Power & Associates Airport Satisfaction Study – Ranked 2nd among North American airports with under 10 million annual passengers
  • Florida Department of Transportation 2008 Commercial Airport of the Year
  • Airports Council International-North America Excellence in Marketing and Communications 2008: 1st Place Special Events for Aviation Day
  • Airports Council International-North America 2008: 1st Place for Concession Convenience and 2nd Place for Food Concessions
  • Airports Council International-North America 2009: 2nd Place Newsletter – Internal or E-mail and 2nd Place Special Events – Berlin Airlift
  • Federal Aviation Administration 2009 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Advocate and Partner Award
  • Florida Airports Council 2008 Environmental Excellence Award for Mitigation Park
  • Airport Revenue News 2008 Best Concessions Award for top Concessions Program Design

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.

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Concourse C has been shut down until further notice due to drop in demand for air travel. Delta flights now operate out of Concourse D, gates D7 and D10, while United now operates out of Concourse B, gates B3 and B5. WestJet, however, has not been operating to RSW throughout the pandemic. Therefore, they do not need to relocate concourses. Southwest Florida International Airport views closing Concourse C as a way to consolidate resources until demand for air travel restores.

Air Canada uses Gate B3 (and occasionally B1 if Frontier or Southwest is using B3)

American uses Gates D1, D3, and D5 (and occasionally D7, D9A/B and D10 to accommodate extra aircraft)

Eurowings uses Gate B1

Frontier uses Gates B5, and B7 (and occasionally B1, B3, and B9 to accommodate extra aircraft)

Delta uses Gates C2, C4, C6, C8, and C9 (and occasionally C7 to accommodate extra aircraft)

JetBlue uses Gates D6, and D8 (and occasionally D7, and D10 to accommodate extra aircraft)

Southwest uses Gates B2, B4, B6, and B8 (and occasionally B1, B3, B5, and B9 to accommodate extra aircraft)

Spirit uses Gates D2, and D4 (and occasionally D10 to accommodate extra aircraft)

Sun Country uses Gate B9 (and occasionally B1, and C9 if Frontier or Southwest is using B9)

United uses Gates C1, C3, C5, and C7 (and occasionally B9, C9, D2, and D4 to accommodate extra aircraft)

WestJet uses Gate C1 (and occasionally B1, B3, C7, and C9 if United is using C1)

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Air Canada Rouge Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau 		[18]
American Airlines Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Washington–National [19]
American Eagle Seasonal: Philadelphia, Washington–National [19]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Seasonal: New York–LaGuardia 		[20]
Delta Connection Seasonal: Cincinnati, New York–LaGuardia [21]
Eurowings Düsseldorf [22]
Frontier Airlines Boston (begins July 3, 2020),[23] Chicago-O'Hare (resumes July 2, 2020),[24] Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Long Island/Islip (resumes June 27, 2020),[25] Newark (begins July 2, 2020),[26] Philadelphia, Trenton
Seasonal: Albany, Buffalo, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Omaha, Portland (ME), Providence, Syracuse 		[27]
JetBlue Boston, Cleveland (begins October 1, 2020),[28] Newark, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia (resumes August 6, 2020),[29] Philadelphia (begins August 6, 2020),[30] Providence (begins October 1, 2020),[31] Washington–National, White Plains
Seasonal: Hartford 		[32]
Southwest Airlines Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Columbus–Glenn, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis
Seasonal: Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Dallas-Love, Denver, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, Providence, Rochester 		[33]
Spirit Airlines Atlantic City, Chicago–O'Hare, Detroit, Indianapolis, Newark
Seasonal: Akron/Canton, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Columbus–Glenn, Hartford, Latrobe/Pittsburgh, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh 		[34]
Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul
Seasonal: Madison 		[35]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark
Seasonal: Cleveland, Washington–Dulles 		[36]
United Express Seasonal: Washington–Dulles [36]
WestJet Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Ottawa 		[37]

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Express Memphis
UPS Airlines Fort Lauderdale, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Louisville, San Antonio, Tampa

Statistics

Top destinations
Busiest domestic routes from RSW
(March 2019 – February 2020)[38]
Rank City (Airport) Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, Georgia 574,610 Delta, Southwest
2 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 380,090 American, Frontier, Spirit, United
3 Detroit, Michigan 337,470 Delta, Frontier, Spirit
4 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota 315,460 Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country
5 Boston, Massachusetts 299,320 Delta, JetBlue, Spirit
6 Newark, New Jersey 286,030 JetBlue, Spirit, United
7 Charlotte, North Carolina 251,140 American
8 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 220,230 American, Frontier, Spirit
9 Baltimore, Maryland 210,280 Southwest, Spirit
10 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 176,930 Southwest, Spirit
Largest airlines at RSW
(January 2019 – December 2019)[39]
Rank Airline Share
1 Delta Air Lines 20.75%
2 Southwest Airlines 18.30%
3 American Airlines 14.71%
4 JetBlue Airways 11.59%
5 Spirit Airlines 10.47%

Annual traffic
Annual passenger traffic (enplaned + deplaned), May 1983 - December 2018[40]
Year Passengers Percent Change Year Passengers Percent Change Year Passengers Percent Change Year Passengers Percent Change
1983594,18519933,717,758 7.1%20035,891,668 13.6%20137,637,801 3.9%
19841,311,937 120.8%19944,005,067 7.7%20046,736,630 14.3%20147,970,493 4.3%
19851,701,969 29.7%19954,098,264 2.3%20057,518,169 11.6%20158,371,801 5.0%
19862,129,548 25.1%19964,317,347 5.3%20067,643,217 1.7%20168,604,673 2.8%
19872,687,053 26.2%19974,477,865 3.7%20078,049,676 5.3%20178,842,549 2.8%
19883,115,124 15.9%19984,667,207 4.2%20087,603,845 -5.5%20189,373,178 6.0%
19893,231,092 3.7%19994,897,253 4.9%20097,415,958 -2.5%201910,225,180 9.0%
19903,734,067 15.6%20005,207,212 6.3%20107,514,316 1.3%
19913,436,520 -8.0%20015,277,708 1.4%20117,537,745 0.3%
19923,472,661 1.1%20025,185,648 -1.7%20127,350,625 -2.5%

Accidents and incidents
  • November 28, 2007 – A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile (1.6 km) west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot. This is the first reported crash on airport property.[41]
  • April 13, 2009 – A Beech King Air 200 (N559DW) was carrying four passengers when the pilot went unconscious and later died. Doug White, a passenger, was guided into the airport by air traffic controller Brian Norton, assisted by controller Dan Favio. It was later reported that White was a single engine private pilot with about 130 hours of experience in single engine aircraft. All passengers aboard survived and the plane was not damaged.[42]
  • April 3, 2020 - A fire started at the airport and burned and destroyed over 3,500 rental cars that were stored in a grassy field.

Ground transport

LeeTran bus No. 50 serves the airport.

Recent infrastructure and road projects linked the airport's main terminal road to the southbound and northbound lanes of Interstate 75. This is on top of previously existing roads connecting the airport to the region.

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Davis, Rob (April 20, 2006). "Airport Questions Answered". Voice of San Diego. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  3. "FAA Airport Master Record for RSW" (PDF). AirportIQ. Federal Aviation Administration. January 30, 2020.
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  5. "Southwest Florida Regional Airport Environmental Impact Statement". Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  6. "Interstate 75". AA Roads. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
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  12. "I-75onthego - I-75 Direct Connect". i75onthego.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  13. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Fort Myers airport to expand terminal, consolidate TSA screening to cut waits". News-press.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  15. "Monthly Project Summary Report" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  16. "Southwest Airlines informations". February 19, 2020.
  17. "Southwest Florida International Airport". Flylcpa.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  18. "Flight Schedules". Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  19. "American Airlines Map". Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  20. "Delta Airlines Map". Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  21. "Delta Airlines Map". Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  22. "Our flight schedule - Information - Eurowings". Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  23. https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel/my-trips/route-map/?mobile=true
  24. https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel/my-trips/route-map/?mobile=true
  25. https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel/my-trips/route-map/?mobile=true
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  29. "JetBlue Will Add 30 New Routes, Launch Mint® Service at Newark". JetBlue Airways. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  30. "JetBlue Will Add 30 New Routes, Launch Mint® Service at Newark". JetBlue Airways. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  31. "JetBlue Will Add 30 New Routes, Launch Mint® Service at Newark". JetBlue Airways. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  32. "Route Map - JetBlue". www.jetblue.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  33. "Southwest Airlines - Check Flight Schedules". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  34. "Spirit Airlines - Route Map". www.spirit.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  35. "Route Map - Sun Country Airlines". Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  36. "U.S and International Route Maps - United Airlines". Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020..
  37. "Route map - WestJet official site". www.westjet.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  38. "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)- U.S. Carriers". BTS, Transportation Statistics. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
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  42. "Passenger lands turboprop plane after pilot dies". CNN. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2009.

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