40 facts with historic photos to celebrate RSW's 40th anniversary
Time flies.
Especially at an airport.
Earlier this month, Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) celebrated its 40th year of service for travelers in Fort Myers and beyond. It was on May 14, 1983 when certified operations began at the 3,500-acre site southeast of the City of Fort Myers, marking the beginning of a new era in aviation in Lee County.
RSW has continued to grow in many ways in the last 40 years and that includes the numbers of passengers traveling to and from Southwest Florida. In 2022 the airport recorded a record 10.3 million passengers.
To celebrate RSW's 40th anniversary, here is an historic timeline with 40 facts with historic archive photos:
May 14, 1983
(1) The current airport opened at a cost $90 million.
(2) It featured a 350,000-square-foot terminal.
(3) There were 14 gates.
(4) There were 3,600 parking spaces.
(5)The airlines airlines serving RSW when it opened?: 9 domestic – Continental, Delta, Eastern, Finair Express, Northwest, Ozark, Pan Am, Republic, United
(6) There were seven nonstop destinations: - Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, Miami, Sarasota, Tampa and West Palm Beach
(7) The first flight was Delta #1677 from Atlanta.
(8) The first arriving passenger was Roger Sitkins from Little Rock, Arkansas.
(9) In its first full year of operations, RSW handled 1.3 million passengers.
Two news routes added: Airport news: Two nonstop flights added to RSW
Feb. 4, 1984
(10) First Canadian charters serve RSW. (Wardair)
Aug. 11, 1987
(11) The Lee County Board of County Commissioners created the Lee County Port Authority and the Airports Special Management Committee.
1992
(12) The Concorde touched down at RSW.
(13) A 580,000-square-foot cargo aircraft parking ramp and taxiways added.
May 14, 1993
(14) RSW's 10th Birthday; airport renamed Southwest Florida International Airport to reflect its emerging international status; 3.7 million annual passengers.
(15) Airlines serving airport: 9 domestic – American, American Trans Air, Continental, Delta, Midwest Express, Northwest, TWA, United and USAir; 3 international charters – Air Canada, Canada 3000, Canadian Air
(16) Nonstop destinations: 28
April 1994
(17) First nonstop international, transcontinental air service – LTU starts to Dusseldorf, Germany.
Dec. 1, 1994
(18) Runway expansion completed – 8,400 to 12,000 feet, $20 million.
1998
(19) Extend ramp added east of Concourse B at a cost $2.6 million. Expansion of terminal adds three additional gates to bring total to 17.
(20) One of the first airports in the nation to be equipped with life-saving heart defibrillators
May 19, 1999
(21) Jet, the border collie arrives at Southwest Florida International Airport. RSW becomes the first commercial airport in the nation to use a dog as part of its wildlife management program.
February 2000
(22) Airport revenue bonds issued $375 million to finance new terminal and other additional capital improvement projects.
New terminal planned: Port authority moves ahead with plans for new concourse at Southwest Florida International Airport
2002
(23) RSW celebrates 20th anniversary. 73 million passengers traveled through RSW since opening in 1983, averaging nearly 5.9 million annual passengers.
(24) Airlines serving the airport now include: 17 domestic – AirTran, America West, American, American Eagle, American Trans Air, Cape Air, Continental, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Midwest Express, Northwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United, US Airways, USA 3000; 3 international – Air Canada, Air Transat, LTU International Airways
(25) Nonstop destinations up to 32
November 2004
(26) Free wireless Internet introduced at RSW.
Feb. 23, 2005
(27) Ben Hill Griffin/Treeline Avenue Extension opens.
March 2005
(28) Traffic milestone, airport’s first month to pass 1 million passengers in a month.
Sept. 9, 2005
(29) New terminal opens to much fanfare.
(30) It's newest airport terminal in the nation at the time and the largest public works project in Lee County history at a cost of $438 million.
(31) The new terminal features 28 gates.
(32) It is 798,000-square-feet with ramps and taxiway system, state-of-the-art inline baggage handling system, dual roadways, triple the amount of parking.
(33) Now up to 7.5 million annual passengers.
(34) Airlines serving airport: 19 domestic – AirTran, American, ATA, Cape Air, Chautauqua, Comair, Continental. Express, Delta, Executive, Frontier, Independence Air, JetBlue, Midwest, Northwest, Spirit, Sun Country, US. Airways, USA 3000, United; 3 international – Air Berlin, Air Canada, Condor.
(35) First Arrival: Delta Connection from Columbus, Ohio (CMH).
(36) First Departure: Delta to Atlanta (ATL).
March 2006
(37) Deconstruction of former terminal.
Fall 2012
(38) Florida Department of Transportation begins construction on the I-75 C/D Roadway project, which will give direct access between the interstate and Southwest Florida International Airport.
May 14, 2013
(39) RSW celebrates 30th anniversary. More than 147 million passengers have traveled through RSW since opening; Serves 40 nonstop destinations. March 2013 is the single biggest month for passenger traffic in airport history with 1.1 million travelers
(40) Airlines serving airport: 16 domestic – AirTran, American, Cape Air, Chautauqua, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, MetJet, Shuttle America, Silver Airways, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, US Airways, United, United Express; 3 international – Air Berlin, Air Canada, WestJet; Nonstop destinations: 40
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: RSW in fort myers celebrates 40th anniversary of airline service
