Wikipedia

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport

Not to be confused with Destin Executive Airport or Fort Walton Beach Airport.

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS) is an airport located within Eglin Air Force Base, adjacent to the city of Valparaiso and near the cities of Destin and Fort Walton Beach, in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. The airport was previously named Northwest Florida Regional Airport until February 17, 2015, and Okaloosa Regional Airport until September 2008.

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport

Eglin Air Force Base
USGS 1999 orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military joint-use
Owner/OperatorUnited States Air Force
ServesDestin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, U.S.
LocationWithin Eglin Air Force Base, adjacent to Valparaiso, Florida, U.S.
Operating base forAllegiant Air[1]
Elevation AMSL87 ft / 27 m
Coordinates30°29′00″N 086°31′31″W / 30.48333°N 86.52528°W / 30.48333; -86.52528
Websitewww.FlyVPS.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
12/30 12,004 3,659 Asphalt/Concrete
02/20 10,012 3,052 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers2,279,847
Aircraft operations18,350
Based aircraft2

The airport is just under 16 miles away from Destin and takes approximately 25 minutes to get to Destin.[4] Only commercial air traffic is allowed. Non-commercial operations by general aviation and business aircraft must use nearby Destin Executive Airport.

History

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In 1957, The Okaloosa County Air Terminal opened on Eglin Air Force Base in building 89 with 3 personnel (Airport Manager, Security and Admin Support). Southern Airways was the only passenger airline, with Douglas DC-3s direct to Atlanta via several stops.[5] Passengers entered the base through the East Gate near Valparaiso, thus the airport code of VPS. Southern would later upgrade their service into the airport with 40-passenger Martin 404 propliners before initiating the first scheduled passenger jet flights at VPS.

1967: Southern Airways introduced Douglas DC-9-10 jetliner service into VPS thus becoming the first airline to operate jets into the airport.

1968: According to the September 3, 1968, Southern Airways system timetable, the airline was operating daily nonstop DC-9-10 jet service to Atlanta and New Orleans with direct, no change of plane DC-9 jet flights twice a day to New York City LaGuardia Airport and Washington D.C. Dulles Airport via intermediate stops in Dothan, AL and Columbus, GA.[6]

February 1975: The new James E. Plew Terminal Building of the Okaloosa Air Terminal, on State Road 85, opened in mid-February 1975, with dedication on 22 February. Representative Bob Sikes and Southern Airways President Frank Hulse were some of the speakers.[7] The 32,000 sq ft (3,000 m2) facility cost $1.7 million. Federal grants totaled $472,000, state $80,000, Okaloosa County bond sale $1.1 million, and Southern Airways $190,000. First year enplaned passengers totaled 97,000 with Southern Airways as the sole airline serving VPS with 12 departing flights daily.

1977: South Central Air Transport (SCAT), a commuter air carrier, was serving the airport with flights to New Orleans, LA, Mobile, AL, Montgomery, AL and Panama City, FL flown with Handley Page Jetstream propjets.[6]

1979: On July 1, 1979 Southern Airways merged with North Central Airlines to form Republic Airlines. In July 1979 Republic flew Douglas DC-9-10 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets nonstop from VPS to Atlanta, GA; Dothan, AL; Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Orlando, FL and Tallahassee, FL. Republic also operated direct DC-9 jet service to Baton Rouge, LA; Chicago, IL (O'Hare Airport), Fort Lauderdale, FL; Memphis, TN; Monroe, LA; New York (LaGuardia Airport) and Washington D.C. (Dulles Airport).[8] Prior to the merger Southern flew all of these nonstop and direct DC-9 routes as well and also operated direct DC-9 jet service to Birmingham, AL; Miami, FL and Nashville, TN.[9]

1980s: At the beginning of the 1980s, only Republic Airlines was operating nonstop service between VPS and Atlanta. Republic was operating DC-9-10, DC-9-30 and DC-9-50 jets on the route.[10] As the decade progressed, Delta Air Lines and Eastern Air Lines both added nonstop service between the airport and Atlanta via their respective regional airline code sharing partners, Delta Connection and Eastern Metro Express, both of which operated turboprop aircraft into VPS.[10] The Delta Connection service was flown by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) operating de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops. The Eastern Metro Express service was flown by Metro Airlines operating British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 and de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 Dash 8 turboprops. Air New Orleans, a commuter airline, also served VPS during the 1980s with commuter aircraft such as the Beechcraft C99 turboprop and Piper prop aircraft. Destinations served by Air New Orleans from VPS included Birmingham, AL; Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Orlando, FL; Panama City, FL; Pensacola, FL and Tampa, FL.[10]

1986–1987: On October 1, 1986, Northwest Airlines completed its merger with Republic Airlines. Northwest flew only one route from VPS: nonstop to Memphis, a Northwest hub which was also a former Republic and Southern Airways hub. By September 1987 Northwest had four non-stops a day to Memphis with stretched McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 and DC-9-50s.[11] Later Northwest would reduce its schedule from VPS to three daily DC-9s nonstop to Memphis.[12] No other airline flew jets into VPS until Valujet/Airtran appeared in the 1990s.

1998: AirTran Airways was serving the airport at this time with jet service. According to the August 1, 1998 AirTran system timetable, two nonstop flights a day were operated to Atlanta with direct, one stop service once a day to Washington, D.C. Dulles Airport. AirTran operated McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jetliners into VPS.[10] However, by the end of 2001, AirTran had ceased all service into the airport after commencing service to Pensacola.[10]

November 2004: The current Northwest Florida Regional Airport opened its doors following an expansion with more parking, a larger aircraft parking apron, a second parallel taxiway, landscaping and a new 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2) passenger terminal.

January 2010: Delta Air Lines completed its merger with Northwest Airlines on January 31, 2010. Delta then scaled back the Northwest hub operation in Memphis, and service between VPS and MEM was discontinued in favor of nonstop flights to Delta's hub in Atlanta.

2011: Vision Airlines began a small scheduled passenger hub operation at VPS with flights to Asheville, NC; Atlanta, GA; Baton Rouge, LA; Columbia, SC; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Fort Myers, FL; Greenville/Spartanburg, SC; Huntsville, AL; Knoxville, TN; Lafayette, LA; Las Vegas, NV; Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; Sanford/Orlando, FL; Savannah, GA; Shreveport, LA; St. Louis, MO; and St. Petersburg, FL. Vision flew Boeing 737 jetliners and Dornier 328 turboprops.[13] Vision later ended all flights at the airport and shut down its VPS hub.

February 17, 2015: Northwest Florida Regional Airport changed its name to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport on a 3–2 vote.

March 2016 : GLO Airlines began less than daily, seasonal service from VPS to Little Rock (LIT) and New Orleans (MSY) using 30-seat Saab 340B turboprop aircraft. GLO has since ceased all flights and is no longer in business.

May/June 2016: Allegiant Air began scheduled service to VPS from Cincinnati (CVG), Ft Lauderdale (FLL), Oklahoma City (OKC), Knoxville (TYS), Memphis (MEM) and St Louis/Belleville (BLV) flying Airbus A319, A320, and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 mainline jet aircraft. The Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport became a focus city for the airline at this time.

September 2016: Contour Airlines began flying less than daily, seasonal service from Bowling Green, KY (BWG) to VPS using 30-seat British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 41 turboprop aircraft. These flights ended in 2018 due to low demand.[14]

January 2017: Allegiant Air announced a major expansion with a new base of operations to be located on the airport with a total of eighteen (18) domestic destinations to be served nonstop on seasonal basis with mainline jet aircraft by June 2017 with most of the planned new service to begin in May 2017.[15]

May 2019: Silver Airways began daily service to Orlando, FL (MCO) from VPS using a 34-seat Saab 340 turboprop aircraft.[16] Silver stopped serving VPS in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

May 6, 2021: Southwest Airlines began service to VPS with flights to Dallas-Love (DAL), Nashville (BNA), Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Chicago/Midway (MDW).

March 2022: United Airlines announces that they would cease all flights into VPS, citing long-term unsustainability.[17]

September 19, 2022: Concourse C expansion opens for exclusive use by Allegiant Air, flying to 35 destinations.[18]

February 6, 2024: Avelo Airlines announces service to Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) in Connecticut, starting on May 17, 2024.

Facilities

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Gates at VPS

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport and Eglin AFB covers 6,500 acres (2,630 ha) and share two runways: 12/30 is 12,004 ft × 300 ft (3,659 m × 91 m) asphalt/concrete and 02/20 is 10,012 ft × 300 ft (3,052 m × 91 m) asphalt.[2][19]

Terminal

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The airport has a 116,000 sq ft (10,800 m2) passenger terminal with five second-level gates with passenger jet ways and three ground-level commuter gates with passenger jet ways.

The two-level terminal opened in November 2004. The old terminal building was demolished soon after. The terminal has areas for ticketing and baggage claim and upper and lower courses with gates. The first level has Gates A1, A2, and A3 and waiting areas and a concession area. The second-level concourse has Gates B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6. B3 is rarely used due to a lack of flights during the slow season. B5 is rarely used due to a lack of a jetway. Passengers have to descend a narrow stairwell and isn't very conducive to safe and speedy boarding of the aircraft. The second-level concourse also has a restaurant and concession areas. The terminal was designed to allow future expansion. Concourse C, completed in 2022 for Allegiant Air's exclusive use, is located to the west of the main terminal. The $11.4 million-dollar, 26,000 square foot expansion includes 5 new ground-level gates, along with multiple food and beverage options.[18] However, passengers will still have to check in, as well as collect baggage, at the main terminal.

Ground transportation

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Access to the terminal is off of State Road 85. Parking facilities are to the left, the terminal or loop is straight ahead and rental car return is to the right. The airport loop road has two pass-through lanes on the left and three arrival-departure lanes in front of the terminal. The loop road is a two-lane asphalt roadway about ¾ mile long. Short-term and long-term parking facilities are available. The parking facilities were improved in the early 2000s (decade) as part of the new terminal expansion. These were designed with the Transportation Security Administration's "300-foot rule" in mind, and satisfy the 300-foot (91 m) distance between parked vehicles and the terminal building.

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Allegiant Air Belleville/St. Louis, Cincinnati, Fayetteville/Bentonville, Flint,[20] Las Vegas,[21] Newark, Washington–Dulles (begins May 23, 2025)[22]
Seasonal: Akron/Canton (begins May 24, 2025),[22] Austin, Bloomington/Normal, Boston, Charlotte/Concord, Chicago–Midway, Clarksburg, Columbus–Rickenbacker, Dayton, Des Moines, Evansville, Grand Rapids, Huntington, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Lexington, Little Rock, Louisville, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Shreveport, Springfield/Branson, Tulsa, Wichita		 [23]
American Airlines Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Washington–National
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare		 [24]
American Eagle Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Washington–National
Seasonal: Philadelphia		 [24]
Avelo Airlines Seasonal: New Haven[25] [26]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul [27]
Southwest Airlines Baltimore, Dallas–Love, Nashville
Seasonal: Austin, Chicago–Midway, Houston–Hobby,[28] Kansas City, St. Louis		 [29]
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul

Statistics

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Top destinations

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Busiest domestic routes
(September 2023 – August 2024)[30]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, GA 256,620 Delta
2 Dallas/Fort Worth, TX 156,410 American
3 Charlotte, NC 122,590 American
4 Nashville, TN 96,070 Allegiant, Southwest
5 Minneapolis/St Paul, MN 59,150 Allegiant, Delta, Sun Country
6 Cincinnati, OH 54,950 Allegiant
7 Dallas–Love, TX 50,010 Southwest
8 St. Louis–Belleville, IL 45,110 Allegiant
9 Baltimore, MD 30,950 Allegiant, Southwest
10 Washington, D.C. 30,160 American

Airline market share

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Largest Airlines at VPS
(September 2023 – August 2024)[31]
Rank Carrier Passengers Market

Share

1 Allegiant 629,000 27.06%
2 Delta 574,000 24.70%
3 American 520,000 22.40%
4 Southwest 438,000 18.83%
5 PSA Airlines 78,120 3.36%
Others 84,970 3.66%

Annual traffic

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VPS Airport Annual Traffic 2017-Present[32]
Year Passengers % Change
2017 1,175,894 —
2018 1,413,843  20.24%
2019 1,673,226  18.35%
2020 948,292  43.33%
2021 1,998,587  110.76%
2022 2,006,297  0.39%
2023 2,279,847  13.63%

Incidents at or near VPS

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  • On November 13, 1969, a USAF North American Sabreliner on final approach crashed into the water of Apalachicola Bay in foggy weather 4km from Valparaiso-Eglin AFB (VPS). The aircraft was fitted with radiological test equipment for Project "Have Doughnut". Both occupants survived, but the aircraft was destroyed and written off.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tony Judnich (2018-02-14). "Allegiant, VPS announce new base, new routes, new jobs". Northwest Florida Daily News. Gannett Co., Inc.
  2. ^ a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for VPS PDF, effective November 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "VPS Airport Passenger and Operations Data for 2023" (PDF). flyvps.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "Airports to use when flying to Destin, Florida | Destin Florida". destinflorida.com.
  5. ^ timetableimages.com January 7, 1958 Southern timetable
  6. ^ a b "Airline Timetable Images". www.timetableimages.com.
  7. ^ Fort Walton Beach, Florida, "Terminal Dedication Saturday", Playground Daily News, Friday 21 February 1975, Volume 30, Number 13, page 1A.
  8. ^ departedflights.com, July 1, 1979 Republic timetable
  9. ^ departedflights.com, July 1, 1978 Southern timetable
  10. ^ a b c d e "index". www.departedflights.com.
  11. ^ departedflights.com, September 9, 1987 Northwest timetable
  12. ^ departedflights.com, April 1995 Official Airline Guide (OAG), North American edition
  13. ^ Press Releases[usurped]
  14. ^ "Local Destin flights won't return". February 17, 2018.
  15. ^ "Best Travel Deals, Cheap Flights, Hotel Discounts, Car Rentals and more". Allegiant Air.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Article". www.silverairways.com. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  17. ^ "United Airlines ending services to Destin-Fort Walton Beach".
  18. ^ a b "Allegiant Air, Okaloosa County celebrate new concourse at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport".
  19. ^ "VPS airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  20. ^ "Allegiant Announces Eight New Routes with One-Way Fares as Low as $39*". PRNewsWire. July 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Allegiant Announces Major Service Expansion with 22 New Nonstop Routes | Allegiant Travel Company".
  22. ^ a b "Allegiant Air 1H25 Network Expansion". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Allegiant Interactive Route Map". Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Flight schedules and notifications". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  25. ^ "Avelo announces 4 new destinations from New Haven, including Atlanta". New Haven Register. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  26. ^ "Destinations". Avelo Airlines. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  27. ^ "FLIGHT SCHEDULES". Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Southwest Airlines - Check Flight Schedules".
  29. ^ "Check Flight Schedules". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Top 10 Destination Airports (U.S. Only, Passengers (000))". Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
  31. ^ "OST_R | BTS | Transtats". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "VSP Airport Airline Activity Reports 2017-Present". flyvps.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  33. ^ "Accident description for 59-2871 at Aviation Safety Network". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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