Palm Beach International AirportTravel to West Palm Beach Florida by Air |
| Home | Business | Community | Dining | Education | Jobs | Hotels | Lodging | Health | Real Estate | Recreation | Resorts | Rooms | Shopping | Travel |
Many cities are served by multiple airports. Larger airports have more flight options, especially direct flights, more facilities and more amenities such as shops and restaurants. But often times larger airports serve as hubs for the major carriers, and their presence there -and often dominance - means you often pay higher fares. Larger airports also tend to have higher parking rates, are more congested, and have more delays (due to aircraft traffic). On the other hand, if the closest airport you choose to fly to or from is a smaller regional airport, you might be rewarded with lower fares, fewer delays, and less traffic. That might even make it worthwhile - even if the nearest airport is a bit further of a drive.
|
Palm Beach International Airport
|
Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA) began operations as Morrison Field in 1936. Morrison Field was named in honour of Miss Grace K. Morrison who was a key participant in the planning and organization of the airfield. The first flight departing the field was a New York bound Eastern Air Lines DC-2 in 1936. The airport was officially dedicated on December 19, 1936. In 1937 the airport was expanded beyond an airstrip and an administration building when the Palm Beach Aero Corporation obtained a lease, built hangars and the first terminal on the south side of the airport. The new terminal became known as the Eastern Air Lines Terminal. The field was used by the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, commencing in 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor Morrison field was used as a base for the allied invasion of France, many planes took off from Morrison, en route to the United Kingdom, to take part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. In 1947 the Army Air Corps moved to Mobile, Alabama and commercial services by Eastern and National Airlines resumed from Morrison Field. On August 11, 1948, the name of the airport was changed to Palm Beach International Airport. The airport was once again used by the military in 1951. Renamed Morrison Air Force Base the facility was used to train nearly 23,000 airmen during the Korean War. On March 1953 the county opened the airport's second passenger terminal on the south side of the field. Following the War, the federal government attempted to make the airport a permanent military base, however the County fought the move and took over airport operations in 1959. Delta Air Lines began scheduled service in 1959 and was followed by Capital Airlines in 1960. Jet-powered flights were introduced by Eastern Airlines in 1959 with the turboprop Lockheed L-188 Electra. On October 1966 a jet-age eight-gate Main Terminal Building was opened on the northeast quadrant of the airport. In 1974, Delta Air Lines moved into its own six-gate unit terminal which featured the airport's first jetways. The FAA built a new ATC Control Tower on the south side of the airport during this period. On October 23, 1988, the 25-gate David McCampbell Terminal, named for World War II naval flying ace, Medal of Honor winner and Palm Beach County resident David McCampbell, was officially dedicated. The 550,000 square foot (51,000 mē) terminal was designed with expansion in mind and can be doubled in size when required. In 2003 its terminal was voted among the finest in the nation by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. In that same year, a new landscaped and state of the art I-95 interchange was built to decrease traffic on Southern Blvd (US 98) extending Turnage Boulevard (the road around the perimeter of the concourse). Aggressive competition for the southern end of the airport's market from rapidly expanding Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport led to an unanticipated stagnation of passenger growth at the airport throughout the 1990s. The 2001 recession and the September 11th terrorist attacks further inhibited growth in 2001 and 2002. However, rapid development in South Florida since 2002 has finally led to a surge of passenger traffic at the airport. In addition, discount carriers such as Song and JetBlue decided to make PBIA a mini-hub for travellers from the northeast during this period, further increasing traffic at the airport. In 2006, the County embarked on an interim expansion program by breaking ground on a new 7 story parking garage and the addition of 3 gates within Concourse C. Long range expansions include an expansion of gates at Concourse B and the eventual construction of a new 14 gate Concourse D to be extended east from the present terminal. Palm Beach International Airport covers 2,120 acres and has three runways: Helicopter operations typically use 09R/27L or its parallel taxiways, or make a direct approach to either Customs or the Galaxy Aviation ramp. Palm Beach County Sherriff Office maintains its air division from a hangar at the southwest corner of the airport. General Aviation FBO's and hangars are located along the southern edge of the airport, with entrance access available by the Jet Aviation FBO. A new ATC tower is scheduled to be built sometime in late 2006 or early 2007. Airlines: The following airlines fly to Palm Beach International Airport: |
|
|
Cannot find it here? Try a West Palm Beach Florida search with the power of Google:
|
|
|
