PANAMA CITY BEACH — As Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport nears its fifth anniversary this spring, officials are looking much farther into the future as the facility continues to expand its offerings.
The Panama City/Bay County Airport and Industrial District held its third and final public workshop Monday to discuss the airport’s master plan, which outlines five-, 10- and 20-year planning horizons for ECP.
The plan has been in development for nearly three years, and triggers three levels of expansion projects on the 4,000-acre airport property based on growth in passenger activity.
Airport planner Paul Puckli said since the airport relocated to West Bay, it has increased its percent of the market share among the four major Panhandle airports from 8 percent to 22 percent.
“The new airport actually increased traffic here with better air fares, better air service, more destinations,” said Puckli, adding that growth is still projected despite recent declines in passenger traffic. “We looked at the market share forecast and assumed that would continue through the planning process.”
The master plan forecasts passenger traffic to more than double in 20 years, from 430,000 passenger enplanements per year to 870,000 per year, and more traffic means larger facilities to handle it.
The most pressing project currently calls for expanding the outbound baggage area, with expansion of the security checkpoint not far behind.
Other major projects recommended over the 20-year planning period include efforts to expand the terminal to 11 gates, along with the development of a crosswind runway that could also double as a backup runway should the main runway be out of service.
The plan recommends the development of a 6,800-foot runway within six to 10 years, with a project to expand the runway to 7,500 feet in 20-plus years.
Both projects are included in the Airport Layout Plan, a requirement to receive funding from the Federal Aviation Administration.
However, just because a project is on the plan does not mean it will receive funding. Puckli said ultimately the airport is competing for funding with every airport in the country.
Panama City Beach Councilman John Reichard attended the meeting and asked how local officials and community members could encourage the FAA to fund projects like the crosswind runway.
“Number one, use your airport ... and get your business community to use this airport,” Puckli said. “I don’t want to say politics, but legislative help is always good; your representatives need to be involved ... not only from FAA, but (the Florida Department of Transportation) — they’re a player in this as well.”
The Airport Authority will consider conditional approval of the master plan at a board meeting in the second floor terminal building at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Final adoption is subject to approval by the FAA and FDOT.