Southwest Florida International Airport runway plans pushed to early 2040s

As the third-largest airport by land area, RSW covers 13,555 acres near downtown Fort Myers. AFAR, a travel-media publication, highlights RSW in a global ranking of large airports by land size. “When people refer to ‘big’ airports, they typically think of large hubs with many passengers transiting through. But bigger doesn’t always mean busier,” stated Barbara Peterson from AFAR.

RSW's history traces back to its strategic location near Interstate 75, which offers easy access to destinations in Southwest Florida, including Naples. The airport developed from a small facility at Page Field, which struggled to handle rising air traffic during the 1970s.

Commercial service expansion began in 1983 at the newly constructed Southwest Florida Regional Airport. It was renamed “Southwest Florida International Airport” in 1993, coinciding with the development of customs and immigration facilities and an extended 12,000-foot runway.

International service to Germany commenced in 1994, continuing today through Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, which maintains year-round flights from Frankfurt Airport.

A forthcoming terminal expansion, including a new concourse and centralized security checkpoint, is set to complete by 2028. The delayed construction of a second runway arises from reduced aircraft movements, attributed to larger-capacity jetliners predominantly operating from RSW.

Mark Gordon from the Florida Business Observer notes: “Siegel addressed the runway issue at the REIS event, noting his team of data-crunchers and safety experts say the airport has until roughly 2043 to build a second runway — a major expense. 'We look at what we can afford, and when we can do it,' he says, adding that the airport 'has contingencies in place' if there are runway issues."

Plans are in place to meet future demand, with LCPA suggesting no new runway will be essential until at least 2040.