On October 29, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) held its first public information meeting where new updates to the Airport Master Plan (MPU) were unveiled. After a two-year long process of updating the MPU, ECP revealed the plan’s options to the public via a virtual meeting. This meeting was held over Zoom, and featured a presentation of study findings, plan updates, and encouraged feedback and questions from the community. An airport master plan represents the airport’s planning tool for long-term development. ECP will validate the plan technically and procedurally through investigation of concepts and alternatives on technical, economic and environmental grounds. The updated MPU will be used as a guide in developing and improving the airport to address existing and future needs of the airport and its users. ECP officials made it clear that expansion projects will only begin to occur when passenger levels warrant the need to do so, but the Airport is ready for the future.
A Priority on Parking
ECP Executive Director Parker McClellan says one of the biggest priorities addressed by the MPU is enhancing the airport’s parking facilities. ECP plans to address the space available on the current road going through the rental cars in the parking lot of the Airport. One option is to enlarge the loop road that would go around the rental car cleaning facilities. This option could provide a great deal of additional space for parking and would make accessing the Airport more efficient.
Meeting Growing Demand
As recent achievements and what the next decade could bring for ECP were shared, the expectations for how ECP plans to expand to meet increasing demand were highlighted. In the words of McClellan, “One of the things we think is exciting about this is that as we grow the Terminal, the addition of different food concession, gift shops and things like that would be added. As we grow the passenger demand grows, and the whole airport needs to grow along with that.” Other notable plans from the MPU include considering a crosswind runway and expanding baggage handling, terminal capacity and gates.
ECP is Ready
Even with the strain COVID-19 has placed on the aviation industry, ECP continues to see steady passenger travel to and from the Region. In October, ECP only saw a 17% decrease in passenger activity compared to the same time in 2019, which was a banner year for the Airport. With new COVID-19 safety guidelines at the Airport, in the Terminal, and put in place by airline partners, passengers can feel safe throughout their travel experience. To learn more about the ECP Master Plan and ECP Ready, visit iflybeaches.com.
