Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport (IATA: FLL, ICAO: KFLL, FAA LID: FLL) is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida,^[3] three miles (5 km) southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale.^[2] It is also located near the city of Hollywood and is 21 miles (33.7 km) north of Miami.

In 2011, the airport processed 23,349,835 passengers^[1] (4.2% increase over 2010) including 3,608,922 international passengers (4.7% increase over 2010), showing significant growth in passenger usage and aircraft movement than previous years. The facility far surpassed 2007/2008 levels by 728,147 passengers, regaining its status as one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. From December 2011 through November 2012, the top five air carriers in terms of domestic market share were: JetBlue Airways at 18.21%; Southwest Airlines at 17.50%; Spirit Airlines at 16.24%; Delta Air Lines at 15.60%; and US Airways at 8.16%.^[4] FLL is ranked as the 21st busiest airport (in terms of passenger traffic) in the United States as well as the nation's 14th busiest international air gateway. The facility also ranks as one of the world's 50 busiest airports. FLL is classified by the US Federal Aviation Administration as a "Major Hub" facility serving commercial air traffic.

Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport serves as a focus city for Allegiant Air, JetBlue Airways, and Caribbean Airlines. The airport is the largest base for Spirit Airlines, catering mainly to the airline's international to domestic network. It is also a hub for Silver Airways under the United Express name. The airport's close proximity to cruise line terminals at Port Everglades has also made it popular among tourists bound for the Caribbean. Since the late 1990s, FLL has emerged as an intercontinental gateway as well, especially for charter carriers, although Miami International Airport still handles most long-haul flights to and from South Florida. The airport offers free Wi-Fi Internet access throughout its terminals.

History

Merle Fogg Airport opened on an abandoned 9-hole golf course on May 1, 1929. At the start of World War II, it was commissioned by the United States Navy and renamed Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale. The base was initially used for refitting civil airliners for military service before they were ferried across the South Atlantic to Europe and North Africa. NAS Fort Lauderdale later became a main training base for Naval Aviators and enlisted naval air crewmen flying the TBF and TBM Avenger for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aboard aircraft carriers and from expeditionary airfields ashore. NAS Fort Lauderdale was the home base for Flight 19, the five TBM Avenger aircraft that disappeared in December 1945, leading in part to the notoriety of the Bermuda Triangle.

NAS Fort Lauderdale was closed on October 1, 1946 and transferred to county control, becoming Broward County International Airport.

Commercial flights to Nassau began on June 2, 1953 and domestic flights began in 195859: Northeast Airlines and National Airlines DC-6Bs flew nonstop to Idlewild, and Northeast flew nonstop to Washington National. In 1959 the airport opened its first permanent terminal building and assumed its current name.

In 1966 the airport averaged 48 airline operations a day; in 1972 it averaged 173 a day. The Feb 1966 Official Airline Guide shows three nonstop departures to JFK and no other nonstops beyond Tampa and Orlando; five years later FLL had added nonstops to ATL, BAL, BOS, BUF, ORD, CLE, DTW, MSP, LGA, EWR, PHL and PIT. (Northeast's nonstop to LAX had already been dropped.)

Operations at FLL didn't grow along with Broward County's population. Low-cost traffic propelled the airport's growth in the 1990s, with Southwest opening its base in 1996, Spirit in 1999, and JetBlue in 2001. Spirit made FLL a hub in 2002 and in 2003 JetBlue made FLL a focus city.

During the 2005 hurricane season FLL was affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma. Katrina struck as a Category 1 and caused minor damage, however the airport was closed for about a 48 hour period. However, when Hurricane Wilma made landfall in October roof damage was reported along with broken windows, damaged jetways, and destroyed canopies. The airport was closed for a period of 5 days. Hurricane Wilma was a Category 2 when its center passed to the west of FLL.

Beginning February 2007 the airport initiated fees to all users, including private aircraft. It is one of a handful of airports to administer fees to private pilots. A minimum charge of $10 is assessed to private aircraft which land at the airport.

The airport has been used by filmmakers numerous times, the most famous of these being scenes from Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise.

Facilities and aircraft

Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport covers an area of 1,380 acres (558 ha) and has three runways:^[2]

• Runway 10L/28R^[5]: 9,002 x 150 ft (2,743 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
• Runway 10R/28L: 5,276 x 100 ft (1,608 x 30 m), Surface: Asphalt CLOSED (WILL RE-OPEN 2014)
• Runway 13/31: 6,930 x 150 ft (2,112 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

In 2003, plans were started to expand the facility to meet increasing demand. Proposed improvements include an extension of runway 9R/27L to accommodate larger air carrier jet aircraft,^[6] construction and modifications to the airport's taxiway system to provide for increased speed, improved inter-terminal passenger movement and extensive terminal upgrades. As of April 25, 2006 the master plan for this expansion was being updated for a second time. Concerns and complaints by nearby communities about increased noise from larger jet aircraft, along with concerns about buyout requirements, have delayed construction that is expected to keep Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport viable through 2020.^[7]

Gulfstream International Airlines has its headquarters in Suite 201 of the 1100 Lee Wagener Blvd building.^[8][9] When Chalk's International Airlines existed, its headquarters was on the grounds of the airport in an unincorporated area.^[10]

Construction

Expansion of 9R/27L Runway

On June 5, 2007, Broward County commissioners voted six to three in favor of extending the southern 9R/27L runway. The proposal looks to extend the runway to over 8,000 ft (2,400 m) to accommodate larger aircraft and create a perfectly redundant flight path to allow airplanes to land side-by-side at the same time. The proposal was approved by the FAA and expansion of the south runway is now currently underway and scheduled to open in 2014. The crosswind runway will be decommissioned once the southern runway expansion is completed. All four terminals, now numbering a total of 57 gates, will be increased to 97 with the completion of a new long-haul international Terminal Four and Concourse A at Terminal One. By 2020, Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is projected to handle 36 million passengers annually.^[11]

Demolition and Reconstruction of Terminal Four

During and after the expansion of runway 9R/27L, reconstruction of Terminal Four will go underway at the cost of 450 million. The H concourse will be demolished to put in place the new "G" concourse. In this process four new gates will be added. Additionally, concession space will be increased from 2,128 ft² to 28,000 ft². Also, a secure walkway will be added to connect terminals three and four.^[12]

Terminals

Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport has four terminals. Terminal 1, commonly referred to as "The New Terminal," opened in stages between 2001 and 2003 and was designed by Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum^[13] and Cartaya Associates.^[14] The other three terminals designed by were constructed in 1986 and designed by Reynolds, Smith & Hills as part of a $263 million construction project.^[15] Terminal 4, commonly referred to as the International Terminal, was inaugurated by a Concorde visit in 1983.

Terminal 1 New Terminal

• Terminal 1 has two concourses (B & C) and 18 gates.
• United Airlines operates a United Club in Concourse C, which opened with the new Terminal in 2002 as a Continental Airlines Presidents Club.

Terminal 2 - "Delta" Terminal

• Terminal 2 has one concourse (D) and nine gates.
• Delta Air Lines operates a Sky Club here one of six clubrooms in the state of Florida.
• This Terminal is only used by Delta, Delta Connection, Condor (seasonal), and Air Canada.

Terminal 3 Main Terminal

• Terminal 3 has two concourses (E & F) and 20 gates.
• Concourse F is only used by JetBlue Airways

Terminal 4 International Terminal

• Terminal 4 has one concourse (H) and 10 gates.
• Note: Terminal 4 handles all non-precleared international arrivals, in addition to the departures listed in the table.
• International arrival gates are H2, H4, H6, H8, H9, and H10.
• Commuter airlines use gate "J" which is on the lower level adjacent to recheck.

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled flights

Charter flights

Top destinations

Cargo carriers

GA overcrowding reliever facility

See Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport

Ground transportation

FLL is served by Broward County Transit bus Route 1 which offers connecting service through the Central Terminal, and also service to Aventura, in Miami-Dade County.

Rail service between Miami and West Palm Beach is provided by Tri-Rail commuter rail service at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport station, accessible via a free Tri-Rail shuttle from the main terminals. The shuttle stops at 3 locations at the airport, all on the lower level: west end of terminal 1, between terminals 2 and 3, and between terminals 3 and 4. The shuttle operates 7 days a week.

The airport also offers airport parking and operates a consolidated rental car facility which can be accessed from Terminal 1 by a short walk and from the other terminals by a free shuttle bus service.

Accidents and incidents

On May 18, 1972, an Eastern Air Lines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 had its landing gear collapse and tail section separate during landing. The aircraft then caught fire but all passengers and crew were able to safely evacuate.^[27]

References

External links

• Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport (official site)
• The template PDFlink is being considered for possible deletion. Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport PDF brochure from CFASPP
• Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum (History of Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood Airport)
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective May 2, 2013
• FAA Terminal Procedures for FLL, effective May 2, 2013
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KFLL
  • ASN accident history for FLL
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KFLL
  • FAA current FLL delay information