Rising to the Occasion

Among the components that typically bolster strong economies are bustling air-transportation centers, and our region boasts a real gem. With great fanfare, Southwest Florida International Airport (SWFIA) opened its new $438 million Midfield Terminal Complex in September, the culmination of years of planning.

The previous terminal, which opened in 1983, reached capacity in 1988 and an expansion was long overdue. SWFIA ranks 48th among the busiest airports in the country and fifth in Florida.

Certainly, the airport is the gateway to Southwest Florida for many people. In 2004, more than 7.5 million passengers traveled through the airport. The new terminal can accommodate 10 million travelers annually.

The 798,000-square-foot facility is convenient for business and leisure travelers, offering easy parking, shopping and eateries. One attraction is a business center that features a currency-exchange booth, self-service copiers, self-service fax machines, pay phones with data jacks, a Federal Express drop box, local phone books as well as access to chairs and counter space. The center also offers lottery-ticket sales, phone-card sales, travel insurance, money orders, Western Union money transfers and even a small conference room. A U.S. Postal Self-Service Center is located within the Midfield Terminal Complex, and tech-savvy travelers enjoy free wireless Internet service throughout.

Burger King, Chili's, Cinnabon and Starbucks have been joined by Dewar's Clubhouse, Sbarro and MaggieMoo's. New shops include Books and the Bean of Sanibel, Brighton Collectibles, Tropical Expressions and The Shell Factory.

The Midpoint Terminal uses 28 aircraft gates and has a design that allows for expanding up to 65 gates. The opening of the facility brought two new airlines-Southwest and WestJet-and expanded service from existing airlines. A new employee count is expected to top the worker headcount at the old terminal, which fluctuated between 1,500 and 2,000 during season.

Although plans for the old terminal site are still under way, the demolition of the facility is in process, clearing the way for new uses. The Lee County Port Authority (LCPA), which operates Southwest Florida International Airport, is reviewing several options and hopes to use the name SkyPlex Commercial Center.

"The old site is being marketed for the best and the highest use," says Laska Ryan, LCPA spokeswoman. "An aircraft maintenance facility makes sense, because of the ramp access. The ramp is a valuable feature, and we're leaning toward aeronautical development."

All of this is good news for the economy, as aviation is a target industry identified by the Lee County Economic Development Office to attract more skilled jobs and higher wages to the area.