History
May 2009 — Opened Consolidated Rental Car Service Facility on new 22 acre leasehold just east of the main terminal. This facility has offices for all 5 rental car companies as well as rental car service facilities with hydraulic lifts, automated car washes, gas pumps and vacuum islands and a consolidated fuel farm for both aviation and unleaded gasoline. This $14M project came in on time and under budget and was funded entirely with rental car user fees.
April 2009 — US Airways began service with three (3) flights daily to Charlotte, NC. using CRJ 200 aircraft.
Sept. 2007 — Will break ground on the Consolidated Rental Car Service Facility to be located on 22 acres east of the airport. This facility will have offices for all 5 rental car companies as well as rental car service facilities with lifts, automated car washes, gas pumps and vacuum islands and a consolidated fuel farm for both aviation and unleaded gasoline.
July 2005 — American Eagle began service with five (5) flights daily to Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. using 50-seat ERJ-145 aircraft.
Nov. 2004 — The current Northwest Florida Regional Airport has opened its doors following a major expansion program including additional public parking and aircraft parking apron, a second parallel taxiway, landscaping and a new 110,000 square foot passenger terminal. It is truly a stunning edifice with gleaming white wall panels and an emerald green standing seam steel roof. The roofline is punctuated by cupolas which provide interior light shafts. Passengers arriving at the landside are greeted by a fully landscaped park in front of the Terminal. This park not only provides calm to the senses, but it serves as a security buffer between parking and the Terminal. The interior boasts high vaulted ceilings, which create a spacious atmosphere. Passenger amenities include restroom facilities with fully automatic plumbing and paper towel dispensing. Family friendly facilities are also available. The overall friendliness and cooperative attitude of all airport employees has been further enhanced by the new facility. The pride in such a beautiful accomplishment is obvious to everyone who visits. First year passengers totaled over 800,000.
March 13, 1975 — The Northwest Florida Regional Airport Terminal located on State Road 85 opened its doors. The 32,000 sf foot facility was constructed at a cost of $1.7 million. Financing for the entire facility was through federal, state, and local monies. Federal grants totaled $472,000, state $80,000, Okaloosa County bond sale $1.1 million, and Southern Airways $190,000. First year passengers totaled 185,000 with Southern Airways as the sole airline with 12 departing flights daily.
1968 — Southern Airways began flying four DC-9 aircraft daily out of VPS and Air New Orleans began flying 2 daily operations with service to New Orleans.
1957 — The Northwest Florida Air Terminal opened on Eglin Air Force Base in building 89 with 3 personnel (Airport Manager, Security and Admin Support). Southern Airways was the lone air carrier flying 2 flights per day. Passengers would enter the base through the TAC gate on the east side of the base in Valparaiso, Fl, thus the airport code of VPS was born.