|
Key West International Airport is owned and operated by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) exercises management of the airport through the County Administrator, the Director of Airports and the Airport Manager. While the day to day operation of the airport is performed by County employees, the BOCC retains all authority for the rules and regulations at the airport and retains fiscal responsibility for airport operations.
The airport operates on revenues generated at the airport. It is a fully self-supporting operation that does not use ad valorum taxes to pay its bills. The revenue generated at the airport pays the full costs of employees, operations and maintenance.
The airport employees provide the administrative support, fire fighting/rescue, maintenance, janitorial and security support (Monroe County Sheriff's Deputies) to the airport. The airport also contracts with some private businesses to accomplish some of the janitorial services, maintenance of the landscaping and to operate and manage the parking lot.
The airport is located within the city limits of Key West and covers approximately 258 acres of land. These 258 acres includes 87 acres of unusable land composed of salt ponds and mangrove vegetation. This results in only 181 acres of usable land for the airport.
The airport is the home of a diverse community that includes aviation and non-aviation enterprises. The aviation community includes a “Fixed Base Operator” (Island City Flying Service), a FEDEX cargo operation and several tenants that provide sightseeing and banner towing services. The non-aviation facilities include a Greyhound bus terminal, a National Weather Service facility, a Customs operation, a Monroe County Public Works area, a Drivers License area, a Teen Recreation building, the East Martello historical site, and a park area.
The airport terminal accommodates almost 600,000 passengers annually. This amounts to processing the entire population of Key West through the terminal every 18 days. Scheduled airline landings and takeoffs average approximately 123 daily.
The airfield system consists of one runway measuring 4,800 feet in length. The runway is 100 feet wide and is lighted and open for operations 24 hours per day. The airport maintains firefighting and rescue personnel on duty 24 hours per day. THE AIRPORT NEVER CLOSES.
| 
