Airports
Monroe County owns and operates two airports: Key West International and Florida Keys Marathon International.
Both airports are self-supporting Enterprise Funds, which operate using money generated by rates and charges levied on airport tenants and users. The Airports Department operates the facilities and provides comprehensive aviation services.
Both of Monroe County’s airports are Federal Aviation Administration FAR Part 139 certified. Together they are a vital part of the County’s infrastructure and provide a strong economic foundation for the Florida Keys.
Key West International Airport (EYW)
Key West International Airport provides air carrier service for the Keys, serving approximately 870,000 passengers in 2018 on flights from Delta, American, United, and Silver. Key West provides direct air service to numerous cities, including Atlanta, Newark, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. In February 2019, new service to Philadelphia and New York was added.
Key West International Airport also handled approximately 31,000 general aviation aircraft operations in 2018 and pumped more than 3 million gallons of aircraft fuel in 2017.
Key West’s Master Plan Update
On Aug. 15, 2018, the County Commission approved the Key West International Airport Master Plan Update, a comprehensive study of the airport. The last one was completed in 2003.
The Master Plan Update provides the short-, medium- and long-term development plans to meet future aviation needs.
Key West International Airport is expecting air traffic to increase by an average annual growth rate of 2.4 percent over the next 20 years. It is expected that in 2035, the airport will be at or near capacity with 1.1 to 1.2 million passengers per year. For 2018, the airport is expecting 750,000 to 800,000 passengers.
This update includes plans for a terminal expansion project in the 6-10 year time frame. The terminal expansion will complement the new terminal that was built a few years ago. It will include a new departure lounge, with more space for passengers and concessions, and connections to jet bridges that will increase passenger safety.
And future projects in the Master Plan Update will continue the airport’s commitment to take into account sea-level rise. The recent runway improvement project elevated the runway by 6 inches.
The public airport is owned and operated by Monroe County. The Master Plan update included three technical review committee meetings, followed by three public hearings. The Commission approved the updated Master Plan now will be sent to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval and subsequent implementation.
Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (MTH)
Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is a general aviation facility that provides aeronautical, emergency, business, and ground transportation services to the Middle Keys community.