Key West International Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Key West International Airport
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Aerial view of Key West International Airport
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Monroe County | ||||||||||
| Serves | Key West, Florida | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 3 ft / 1 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 24°33′22″N 81°45′34″W / 24.55611°N 81.75944°W | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
 FAA airport diagram |
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| Runway | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2024) | |||||||||||
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration
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Key West International Airport (EYW) is an airport in Key West, Florida. It's about 2 miles (3 kilometers) east of the main part of Key West. This airport is super important for people visiting the Florida Keys!
The airport has a runway that is 5,076 feet (1,547 meters) long. Because of its length, there are limits on how big planes can be and how much weight they can carry when taking off.
Contents
A Look Back: Airport History
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Key West has a long history with airplanes, starting in 1913 with a flight to Cuba. In 1928, Pan American Airways began offering regular flights from Key West.
During World War II, the airport, then called Meacham Field, was used by the United States Army and United States Navy. It served as an important base for planes and even blimps. After the war, the city took over the airport. In 1953, it became Key West International Airport.
Early Flights and Jet Age
National Airlines started flying to Miami in 1944. They used planes like the Lockheed Lodestar. The airport didn't even have a paved runway until 1956!
In 1968, National Airlines brought the first jet flights to Key West using Boeing 727-100 planes. This made travel much faster. Soon, other airlines like Air Florida and Eastern Airlines also started using jets.
Connecting Key West to More Places
During the 1970s and 1980s, many smaller airlines connected Key West to other Florida cities. They used planes with propellers, like the Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante.
In 1988, Delta Connection started flights to Orlando. The next year, American Eagle Airlines began service to Miami. These airlines helped more people reach Key West.
Jets Return and Airport Growth
By the early 1990s, only propeller planes were flying to Key West for a while. But in 2002, Delta Connection brought jet service back with flights to Atlanta. This was the first nonstop flight outside Florida in many years!
In 2009, AirTran Airways started flying Boeing 737-700 jets to Orlando. This was a big deal because Key West's runway was one of the shortest regularly used by 737s in North America.
In 2018, the airport made its runway longer by 227 feet (69 meters). They also added wider paved shoulders. This project helped make takeoffs and landings even safer.
Airport Facilities
Key West International Airport sits on 334 acres (135 hectares) of land. It's only 3 feet (1 meter) above sea level! The airport has one main runway, called 09/27. It's 5,076 feet (1,547 meters) long and 100 feet (30 meters) wide.
The runway's length means that only certain types of planes can use the airport. The largest planes you'll usually see here are the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737-700. These are smaller versions of popular jetliners.
The Airport Terminal
Key West International Airport has a terminal with several connected buildings. The ground floor of the main building opened in 1957. It used to handle everything from check-in to baggage claim.
In 2009, the airport added a new, elevated building. This new part holds ticketing, check-in, and the security checkpoint. It more than doubled the space for passengers! The older building was then updated to have a bigger waiting area for flights and more space for baggage.
In November 2022, construction began on a brand new passenger concourse. This large concourse, which opened on April 14, 2025, has eight jet bridges. It's also built to be very strong, even against hurricane winds! More improvements are planned for 2026, including a larger security area.
The airport also has parking for 300 vehicles right under the ticketing building.
Airlines and Where They Fly
Many airlines fly to Key West International Airport, connecting it to cities across the United States.
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Allegiant Air | Asheville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Knoxville (begins October 3, 2025), Orlando/Sanford, Pittsburgh, St. Petersburg/Clearwater |
| American Airlines | Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia |
| American Eagle | Charlotte, Miami, Washington–National Seasonal: Boston, Chicago–O'Hare, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia |
| Avelo Airlines | New Haven (begins November 19, 2025) |
| Breeze Airways | Orlando, Raleigh/Durham (begins October 3, 2025), Tampa |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta |
| Delta Connection | Atlanta Seasonal: New York–LaGuardia |
| JetBlue | Seasonal: Boston |
| Spirit Airlines | Fort Lauderdale (begins November 6, 2025) |
| United Airlines | Newark Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Washington–Dulles |
| United Express | Newark Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental |
Airlines like Allegiant, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines use larger jets such as the Airbus A319. JetBlue and Breeze fly the Airbus A220. United Airlines uses the Boeing 737-700. Other airlines like American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express use smaller regional jets.
Airport Passenger Numbers
The number of passengers at Key West International Airport has grown a lot over the years. In the early 2000s, about 200,000 to 300,000 people used the airport each year.
After the new terminal opened and more jet services started, passenger numbers began to climb. In 2021, the airport saw its highest number of passengers ever, with over 1.4 million people! This shows how popular Key West is as a travel spot.
See also
In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cayo Hueso para niños
