Long-term Planning

When Southwest Florida Regional Airport opened in May 1983, the original airport master plan projected that the airport would serve three million passengers annually by 1995. Like most early growth projections for Lee County, it fell drastically short of the mark. This three-million-passenger milestone has been surpassed every year beginning in 1988.

During 1991, the airport was the 59th busiest in the nation and the 120th busiest of 373 reporting airports world wide. Last year, the airport served more than 3.4 million passengers and current projections predict six to nine million each year by 2005.

The 1993 Lee County Port Authority consists of John Manning, chairman; John Albion, vice chairman; Doug St. Cerny, Ray Judah, and Franklin B. Mann. Their appointees to the advisory board are Mike Geml, Chairman, Bill Smith, Malcolm Schroeder and Gately Daniel with one vacancy to be filled.

To accommodate this continued growth, the Lee County Port Authority is keeping the long-term needs of the airport in mind. Work is under way to acquire land adjoining the airport to provide buffers and room for future expansion. By purchasing the land adjoining the airport while it is still undeveloped and relatively inexpensive, the Port Authority gains the advantage of flexibility in planning for growth.

Another project being considered to accommodate future growth includes a second runway to be built south of and parallel to the existing runway to handle additional flights. A midfield terminal, built between the parallel runways, would increase the airport's capacity to handle more flights and would heighten airline efficiency by reducing taxi time and consequently lowering fuel costs.

As Southwest Florida comes into its own as an international destination, the airport will be ready to serve passengers from around the world.

The ghosts of those wingwalkers and barnstormers would surely be impressed. This month Southwest Florida Regional Airport observes its tenth birthday. But they, too played an important role in Lee County's aviation history. Pioneers like Channing Page, Clarence Chamberlin, Buddy Bobst, and those servicemen who trained at Page and Buckingham Fields left a legacy we all benefit from today.

   Previous         Next   

Return to Table of Contents