Key West International Airport

Image:First scheduled service between Miami and Key West by National Airlines (24898096526).jpg

Key West's aviation history began in 1913 with a flight to Cuba by Augustin Parla. In 1928, Pan American Airways began scheduled flights from Key West.{{cite web|url=http://www.keywestinternationalairport.com/key-west-airport-history.htm|title=History and events for Key West International Airport|work=keywestinternationalairport.com}} The main runway at Meacham Field was pressed into U.S. Army use after the Pearl Harbor attack, as well as into U.S. Navy use later in World War II as an alternative to the Trumbo Point seaplane base and the main Naval Air Station for fixed-wing and lighter-than-air (blimp) aircraft on Boca Chica Key. After the war, the city took over what became Key West Municipal Airport.{{cite web |url=http://www.flheritage.com/wwii/sites.cfm?PR_ID=158 |title= Florida in WWII -- Historic Sites and Resources|website=www.flheritage.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310192234/http://www.flheritage.com/wwii/sites.cfm?PR_ID=158 |archive-date=March 10, 2005}} In January 1953, the city gave Monroe County the title to Meacham Field, allowing the county to apply for Federal Aviation Administration grants.{{cite web|url=http://www.keyshistory.org/txairportsdetails.html|title=Key West airport shelf|work=keyshistory.org}} Around the same time, the airport became Key West International Airport.

National Airlines began flights to Miami in 1944 with Lockheed Lodestar twin prop aircraft,{{cite web|website=timetableimages.com|title=Feb. 1945 National Airlines system timetable|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/na/na45/na45-3.jpg}} although the airport did not have a paved runway until around 1956. National served Key West for nearly 25 years and later operated Convair 340 and Convair 440 prop aircraft,http://www.timetableimages.com, April 26, 1959 National Airlines system timetable as well as Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprops, into the airport.http://www.timetableimages.com, May 31, 1964 system timetable In 1968, National began the first jet flights into Key West with Boeing 727-100s, providing nonstop service to Miami. By 1969, National was operating daily 727 jet service direct to Washington National Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport via intermediate stops in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Orlando.http://www.timetableimages.com, July 15, 1969 National Airlines system timetable

Several other airlines also began operating jet service into Key West. In 1979, Air Florida was operating five nonstop flights a day to Miami with Boeing 737 jetliners.{{cite web|website=departedflights.com|title=Airlines and Aircraft Serving Key West Effective November 15, 1979|url=http://www.departedflights.com/EYW79intro.html}} In 1987, Eastern Airlines was operating daily mainline Boeing 727-100 jet service nonstop to Miami.http://www.departedflights.com, Aug. 31, 1987 Eastern Airlines system timetable By 1989, Piedmont Airlines was operating six nonstop flights a day to Miami with Fokker F28 Fellowship twin jets.http://www.departedflights.com, June 1, 1989, Piedmont Airlines route map This F28 jet service was then continued by USAir following its acquisition of and merger with Piedmont.{{cite web|title=Airlines, and Aircraft Serving Miami Effective December 15, 1989|url=http://www.departedflights.com/MIA89intro.html|website=departedflights.com|quote=USAIR Aircraft Operated:....Fokker 28...Destinations Served:...Key West (FL)...}}

Image:Key West International Airport.JPG

A number of commuter and regional airlines also served Key West with turboprop and prop aircraft during the 1970s and 1980s primarily with nonstop flights to Miami but also with nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and Tampa.http://www.departedflights.com, Official Airline Guide (OAG) editions: April 1, 1981; July 1, 1983; Feb. 15, 1985; Dec. 15, 1989; Oct. 1, 1991; April 2, 1995; June 1, 1999; Miami-Key West flight schedules & Key West flight schedules According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), these air carriers included Air Florida Commuter, Dolphin Airlines, Gull Air, Jetstream International Airlines, Pro Air Services, Provincetown-Boston Airlines (and its successor Bar Harbor Airlines), Southeast Airlines, and Southern Express. Turboprop aircraft operated into the airport included the British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31, Beechcraft 1900C, Beechcraft 1900D, Beechcraft C99, CASA 212 Aviocar, Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, Nord 262 and Saab 340. Piston engine twin prop aircraft flown by commuter air carriers serving Key West included the Douglas DC-3, Martin 4-0-4, and Piper Navajo.

Delta Connection carrier Comair began service to Delta Air Lines' hub in Orlando in 1988 and also briefly had service to Tampa and Fort Lauderdale as well.{{cite news |last1=Cheakalos |first1=Christina |title=Key West gets 3rd commuter line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-key-west-gets-3rd-commu/157279958/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=Miami Herald |date=2 February 1988 |page=49 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite web |title=Delta Air Lines Daily Departures from Orlando 1977-2004 |url=https://www.departedflights.com/DLMCOhub.html |website=Departed Flights |access-date=1 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=Comair Route Map (April 3, 1988) |url=https://www.departedflights.com/OH040388.html |website=Departed Flights |access-date=1 February 2024}} American Eagle Airlines began service from Key West to American Airlines' hub in Miami in 1989. American Eagle operated Saab 340 and ATR-72 propjets into the airport before introducing regional jet service in the 2010s.

By the early 1990s, both USAir and Eastern Air Lines ended jet service to Key West, and all commercial service to Key West would be operated by propeller aircraft for the rest of the decade. In 1993, Cape Air began service to Key West with flights to Naples using Cessna 402s. Service expanded in 1996 with flights to Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers (the latter of which continued operating until 2013).{{cite news |last1=Ruane |first1=Laura |title=Key West even more colorful |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press-key-west-even-more-colorful/157280166/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=The News-Press |date=13 February 1997 |page=39 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite web |title=About Cape Air |url=https://www.capeair.com/about_us/index.html |website=Cape Air |access-date=25 May 2023}} Other airlines operating at Key West in the early 1990s included Airways International (with flights to Fort Lauderdale and Miami), Pan Am Express (with flights to Miami), Paradise Island Airlines (operating code sharing service for Carnival Air Lines to Fort Lauderdale), and USAir Express (later known as US Airways Express with flights to Miami and Tampa).{{cite web |title=Carnival Airlines: December 19, 1996 |url=https://www.departedflights.com/KW121996.html |website=Departed Flights |access-date=6 February 2024}}{{History of Key West}}

Gulfstream International Airlines also began service to Key West in the early 1990s with flights to Miami and Tampa.{{cite web |title=Gulfstream International Airlines: June 28, 1996 |url=https://www.departedflights.com/3M062886.html |website=Departed Flights |access-date=3 February 2024}} Gulfstream would later operate as Continental Connection, the regional brand of the now-defunct Continental Airlines.{{cite web |title=Continental Express: August 2001 |url=https://www.departedflights.com/COX0801.html |website=Departed Flights |access-date=3 February 2024}} Gulfstream has since been rebranded as Silver Airways, who still serves Key West today.{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2011 |title=Gulfstream International Airlines Rebrands as Silver Airways |url=http://www.victoryparkcapitaladvisors.com/news/2011/gulfstream_rebranded_as_silver_airways.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426082732/http://www.victoryparkcapitaladvisors.com/news/2011/gulfstream_rebranded_as_silver_airways.php |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2016 |website=victoryparkcapitaladvisors.com}}

In 2002, Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines began regional jet service to Delta's hub in Atlanta. This brought jet service back to Key West as well as Key West's first non-stop flight to a destination outside of Florida since 1961.{{cite news |title=Delta expands Keys-Atlanta service |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-delta-expands-keys-atla/157280245/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=Miami Herald |date=28 December 2002 |page=49 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} Delta Connection's service to Orlando was also upgraded to regional jets at the same time, though Orlando service was discontinued by 2008.{{cite news |title=Atlanta-Key West flights begin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-atlanta-key-west-fl/157280293/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |agency=Orlando Sentinel |date=2 October 2002 |page=C3 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Sara K. |title=AirTran to fly Orlando to Key West aboard 737s |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-airtran-to-fly-orla/157280348/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |agency=Orlando Sentinel |date=9 September 2009 |page=B5 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}

Main line jet service returned to Key West in 2009 when AirTran Airways, Key West's first low-cost carrier, started flights to Orlando International Airport on Boeing 737-700s. Around the same time, Delta Air Lines upgraded some of their Atlanta flights to main line service on Boeing 737s. The airport's runway, which was {{convert|4801|ft}} at the time, was the shortest runway to be regularly used by 737s in North America.{{cite web |date=December 17, 2009 |title=AirTran and Delta begin 737 flights to Key West |url=http://sunshineskiesnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/airtran-begins-flights-to-key-west.html |access-date=22 September 2016 |website=Sunshine Skies}}

AirTran later added flights to Tampa in 2011.{{cite web |title=AirTran Begins Tampa-Key West Service |url=https://fla-keys.com/news/article/8033/ |website=The Florida Keys and Key West |access-date=6 February 2024}} By the end of 2012, Southwest Airlines took over AirTran's flights to Orlando and Tampa as part of the merger of the two airlines. Southwest also added service to New Orleans in March 2013.{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines Launches Service To Key West International Airport |url=https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com/news-and-events/news-releases/2012/04-11-2012 |website=Southwest Airlines |access-date=6 February 2024}} However, in 2014, Southwest discontinued all service to the airport.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2013/12/06/southwest-airlines-branson-key-west-jackson-evers/3889197/|title=Southwest Airlines cutting service to three cities|website=USA Today|language=en|access-date=2019-01-15}}

On July 15, 2017, Key West International Airport was awarded a grant of $6.5 million by the FAA to assist in a $10 million runway project. The project added {{convert|227|ft}} to the runway for takeoffs and landings as well as added {{convert|10|ft|adj=on}}-wide shoulders paved on each side of the runway. Construction work began in January 2018 and all construction was done at night.{{Cite web |last=Filosa |first=Gwen |date=July 15, 2017 |title=Key West airport to start $10M runway project |url=https://www.flkeysnews.com/news/local/article161555483.html |website=FL Keys News}}

File:Key West Airport Ticketing Area.jpg

Key West International Airport covers 334 acres (135 ha) at an elevation of 3 feet (1 m). Its one runway, 09/27, is 5,076 feet long and 100 feet wide (1,547 x 30 m) and has an asphalt surface.{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/EYW/Key-West-International-Airport|title=EYW airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com}} FAA data effective January 23, 2025.

The length of the runway limits the size of aircraft that can serve the airport. Currently the largest aircraft that serve the airport are the Airbus A319 and the similarly sized Boeing 737-700, both shortened variants of the popular narrow-body mainline aircraft. Additionally, flights departing from EYW often have weight restrictions.

The airport has two terminals designed by Mark Mosko and Dwane Stark of URS; Mosko also worked on Baltimore–Washington International Airport. The older ground-level terminal building opened in 1957 and now serves arriving passengers. The terminal was expanded with the addition of a second building elevated over the parking lot in February 2009. With an area of about {{convert|30000|sqft|m2}}, it more than doubled the airport's terminal space. The newer building includes an elevated roadway and houses ticketing, check-in, and the airport's security checkpoint. The older building was then renovated with the former ticketing area becoming an expanded departure gate lounge, and the baggage claim area was then expanded into the former departure lounge. The two buildings are connected by an enclosed walkway.{{cite web|title=NEW KEY WEST AIRPORT TERMINAL TO OPEN FEB. 25|url=http://www.fla-keys.com/news/news.cfm?sid=7325|website=Florida Keys|access-date=22 September 2016}} The departures area was replaced by a new concourse in April 2025, featuring {{convert|48802|sqft|m2}} of space to support the airport's growing operations and passenger traffic.

File:EYW airport entrance.jpg

Parking for 300 vehicles is at ground level beneath the newer terminal—150 spaces for rental cars and 150 for the public.{{cite web | url = http://www.floridabrowser.com/News/2009/2/28/New-Terminal-Opens-At-Key-West-International-Airport/ | title = New Terminal Opens at Key West International Airport | access-date = September 17, 2009 | publisher = Florida Browser | archive-date = March 3, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171051/http://www.floridabrowser.com/News/2009/2/28/New-Terminal-Opens-At-Key-West-International-Airport/ | url-status = dead }}

In the year ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 66,550 aircraft operations, averaging 182 per day: 55% general aviation, 34% airline, 10% air taxi, and <1% military. At the time, 59 aircraft were based at the airport: 39 single-engine, 13 multi-engine, 3 jet, 3 helicopter and 1 ultralight.

In November 2022, the airport broke ground on the construction of a new $98.8 million passenger concourse. This concourse will be nearly {{convert|50000|ft2}} in size and feature a new departures area, an upgraded security checkpoint, additional baggage areas, and new gates featuring eight jet bridges. The project was completed in early 2025 and opened to the public on April 14. Further expansion, including a larger security checkpoint and baggage claim area, are expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.{{cite web | url = https://keysweekly.com/42/cleared-for-takeoff-its-a-whole-new-world-at-key-west-airport/ | title = NEW KEY WEST AIRPORT TERMINAL IS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF |date= April 14, 2025 | access-date = April 14, 2025 | website= KEYSWEEKLY }}

{{Airport destination list

| Allegiant Air | Asheville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Orlando/Sanford, Pittsburgh, St. Petersburg/Clearwater

| {{nowrap|American Airlines}} | Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia

| American Eagle | Charlotte, Miami, Washington–National
Seasonal: Boston,{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230913-aanw23boseyw|title=American Adds Boston - Key West Holidays 2023/24 Service|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=September 13, 2023|access-date=September 13, 2023}} Chicago–O'Hare, New York–LaGuardia,{{cn|date=March 2025}} Philadelphia

| Breeze Airways | Orlando, Tampa (both begin June 12, 2025){{cite web|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/03/11/breeze-adds-70th-destination/|title=Breeze Adds 70th Destination|website=Airline Geeks|date=March 11, 2025|access-date=March 11, 2025}}

| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta

| Delta Connection | Atlanta
Seasonal: New York–LaGuardia{{cn|date=March 2025}}

| JetBlue | Seasonal: Boston{{cn|date=March 2025}}

| Silver Airways | Fort Lauderdale, Tampa

| United Airlines | Newark
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Washington–Dulles{{cite web|title=UNITED EXPANDS KEY WEST SERVICE FROM JANUARY 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230815-uajan24eyw|website=AeroRoutes |access-date=15 August 2023}}

| United Express | Newark
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental

}}

Allegiant, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines operate mainline jets into Key West, primarily the Airbus A319. JetBlue operates the Airbus A220. United Airlines operates the Boeing 737-700.{{Cite web |title=United Expands Key West Service From January 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230815-uajan24eyw |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=AeroRoutes |language=en-CA}} American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express operate regional jets, including the Bombardier CRJ700 and Embraer 170/175. Silver Airways operates ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.silverairways.com|title=Silver Airways|work=silverairways.com}}

Key West's traffic was generally fairly stagnant to start the new millennium but gradually began increasing at the end of the 2000s with the addition of the new terminal and the introduction of low-cost jet service operated by AirTran, as well as mainline jet service by Delta.McCarthy, Ryan. "[http://archives.californiaaviation.org/airport/msg48958.html Key West airport gets a lift with new terminal, service]". The Miami Herald. December 21, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2011. Archived from [http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/21/2556261/key-west-airport-gets-a-lift-with.html the original] by California Aviation Alliance.

When Southwest acquired AirTran in 2011, it continued to operate flights from the airport, first under the AirTran brand and then under the Southwest brand with Boeing 737-700 jetliners.Guerra, John L. "[http://konknet.com/2014-04-06-3/ Southwest pulling out of Key West on June 7] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510110656/http://konknet.com/2014-04-06-3/ |date=May 10, 2017 }}". KONK Life. April 6, 2014. Southwest Airlines ended service to Key West Airport in 2014.

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=EYW}}

• On April 25, 1959, a Vickers Viscount of Cubana de Aviación was hijacked on a flight from Varadero to Havana. The aircraft landed at Key West.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19590425-1 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=September 8, 2009}}
• On March 19, 2003, Aerotaxi Flight 882, operated by Douglas DC-3C CU-T1192, was hijacked on a flight from Rafael Cabrera Airport in Nueva Gerona, Cuba to José Martí International Airport in Havana. The six hijackers were detained upon the plane's landing at Key West.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20030319-0 |title=CU-T1192 Hijacking description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=June 21, 2001}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dc3history.org/cuba.htm |title=Cuba |publisher=DC3 history |access-date=June 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722164352/http://www.dc3history.org/cuba.htm |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}
• On April 2, 2003, a Cubana de Aviación flight scheduled from Siguanea Airport to José Martí International Airport, operated by a Antonov An-24, was hijacked and landed in Key West. As of 2021, the plane had remained in Key West and was being used as a training facility for fire and police.{{cite web | url=https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-02-11/cuban-plane-hijacked-to-key-west-in-2003-may-make-final-journey-as-an-artificial-reef | title=Cuban Plane Hijacked to Key West in 2003 May Make Final Journey — as an Artificial Reef | date=February 11, 2021 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/02/us/second-plane-from-cuba-is-hijacked-to-key-west.html | title=Second Plane from Cuba is Hijacked to Key West | work=The New York Times | date=April 2, 2003 | last1=Canedy | first1=Dana }}
• On October 31, 2011, a Gulfstream G150 carrying NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick ran off the end of Key West's runway after experiencing a loss in braking action upon landing. The jet, owned by NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, suffered nose gear damage.{{cite web|title=Rick Hendrick crash|url=http://www.wistv.com/story/15924012/plane-registered-to-nascar-star-jimmie-johnson-crashes-in-key-west|work=Accident Description|date=November 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2012}}
• On November 2, 2011, a Cessna Citation crash landed in Key West. The flight, which originated in Fort Lauderdale, had a brake failure upon landing. Two pilots were on board along with two passengers. Only minor injuries were reported. The aircraft was stopped by the airport's newly installed EMAS system.{{cite web|title=Accident Report|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/no_one_is_hurt_after_small_pla.html|work=The Star-Ledger|access-date=January 23, 2012}}

• List of airports in Florida

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{{Commons}}

• {{Official website|https://eyw.com/}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.cfaspp.com/PopUps/DownloadDocument.aspx?doctype=facilityinfo&uaid=FL000034 |title=Key West International Airport }} brochure from [http://www.cfaspp.com/ CFASPP]
• {{FAA-diagram|00606}}
• {{FAA-procedures|EYW}}

{{US-airport|EYW}}

{{Key West}}

{{Florida airports}}

Category:Airports in Monroe County, Florida

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