Two vital business organizations, the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys & Key West and the Key West Business Guild, gathered for two separate lunchtime meetings on Nov. 3.
County Airports Director Richard Strickland spoke to lodging officials about the upcoming enhancements at Key West International Airport. He emphasized the significant airport overhaul is not an expansion, but an enhancement, as the airport’s passenger service levels are being increased but not its capacity.
Strickland reported that the airport has welcomed 1.1 million passengers in 2021, as of October. “We’re expecting 1.5 million,” he said, adding that the airport’s previous 12-month record was 980,000 passengers.
“We’ve also added 17 new routes since 2019,” Strickland said, adding that the airlines have the right from the federal government to add those routes. “We don’t get to choose their flights. The airlines have that right through interstate commerce laws. I can only talk with them to manage things. We don’t get to choose which or how many flights come in.”
Strickland also said that he doesn’t expect any additional new flights or destinations being added in 2022. He also said the enhancement project will not include a runway lengthening, which would allow larger planes to land here.
“We’d need another 1,400 feet of runway and that’s not even in our 30-year master plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, around the corner at the Marriott Beachside Hotel, the Key West Business Guild welcomed the Florida Keys SPCA to discuss animal welfare, adoptions and upcoming special events.
