Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Explained

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Iata:	FLL
Icao:	KFLL
Faa:	FLL
Type:	Public
Owner:	Broward County
Operator:	Broward County
City-Served:	South Florida
Location:	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Elevation-F:	9
Elevation-M:	3
Website:	www.broward.org/airport
R1-Number:	9L/27R
R1-Length-F:	9,000
R1-Length-M:	2,743
R1-Surface:	Asphalt
R2-Number:	9R/27L
R2-Length-F:	5,276
R2-Length-M:	1,608
R2-Surface:	Asphalt
R3-Number:	13/31
R3-Length-F:	6,930
R3-Length-M:	2,112
R3-Surface:	Asphalt
Stat-Year:	2006
Stat1-Header:	Aircraft operations
Stat1-Data:	310,255
Stat2-Header:	Based aircraft
Stat2-Data:	100
Footnotes:	Source: Federal Aviation Administration^[1]

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in Dania Beach, three miles (5 km) southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale, a city in Broward County, Florida, United States.^[1] It is also located near the city of Hollywood and is 21 miles (33.7 km) north of Miami.

In 2007, the airport processed 22,681,903 passengers including 2,858,047 international passengers. At that time, FLL was ranked as the 22nd busiest airport (in terms of passenger traffic) in the United States as well as the nation's 14th busiest international air gateway, FLL is the fastest-growing major airport in the country.^[2] The facility also ranks as one of the 50 busiest airports in the world.

In 2008, the airport processed 22,621,500 passengers, a 0.3% drop from 2007 totals. From January through December of 2008, the top five air carriers in terms of market share are: Spirit Airlines at 18.8%; Southwest Airlines at 13.9%; JetBlue Airways at 12.8%; Delta Air Lines (excluding its Northwest Airlines subsidiary) at 12.1%; and US Airways at 9.0%.^[3]

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport serves as a focus city for Allegiant Air, AirTran Airways, and JetBlue Airways. The airport is the largest hub for Spirit Airlines, catering mainly to the airline's international to domestic network. It is also a hub for Gulfstream International Airlines under the Continental Connection name and Lynx Air International. 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 aircrewmen flying the TBF and TBM Avenger for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aboard aircraft carriers and from expeditionary airfields ashore. Former President George H. W. Bush learned to fly the Avenger while stationed at NAS Fort Lauderdale in 1943.

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

Commercial flights to Nassau began on June 2, 1953, and domestic flights began in 1958, operated by Eastern Air Lines, National Airlines, and Northeast Airlines. In 1959, the airport opened its first permanent terminal building and assumed its current name.

Operations at FLL grew along with Broward County's population. Passenger traffic reached 1 million in 1969 and 10 million in 1994. 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 had been affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma. Katrina had struck as a Cat 1 and caused little damage, but the airport was closed for about a 48 hour period. However, when Hurricane Wilma struck, 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 high Cat 1 or low Cat 2 or when it struck FLL.

Beginning February 2007, the airport initiated user 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 as a location shot numerous times, the most famous of these being scenes from .

Facilities and aircraft

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport covers an area of 13800NaN0 and has three runways:^[1]

Runway 9L/27R: 9,002 x 150 ft (2,743 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
Runway 9R/27L: 5,276 x 100 ft (1,608 x 30 m), Surface: Asphalt
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, ^[4] 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 Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport viable through 2020.^[5]

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 8000feet. over a five year period. Currently, the plan is being sent for approval by the FAA.^[6]

For 12-month period ending June 30, 2006, the airport had 310,255 aircraft operations, an average of 850 per day: 58% scheduled commercial (179,305), 23% air taxi (71,630), 19% general aviation (58,942) and <1% military (378). There are 100 aircraft based at this airport: 48% multi engine (48), 40% jet aircraft (40), 9% single engine (9) and 3% helicopters (3).^[1]

Terminals, airlines and destinations

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has four terminals. Terminal 1, commonly referred to as "The New Terminal," opened in stages between 2001 and 2003. The other three terminals were constructed in the mid-1980s as part of a $263 million construction project. Terminal 4, commonly referred to as the International Terminal, was inaugurated by a Concorde visit in 1983.