Consultants Identify 4 Sites For New Naples Airport
Naples could have a new airport one day in the very distant future and geographically very distant from the current airport which sits less than a mile from Fifth Avenue and the Gulf of Mexico.
This week environmental consulting firm ESA presented its shortlist of 4 potential sites for a new Naples Airport to the Naples Airport Authority and, as expected, all of the options are located in less densely populated areas of Collier County.
Each of the four sites presented appear to encompass 2,400 acres of land or 3.75 square miles which is approximately twice the area of the current Naples Airport sandwiched between Airport-Pulling and Goodlette-Frank Roads.
Each ESA site map indicates population density in a 5-mile radius around each proposed site today and in 2040, the earliest that a new Naples Airport would potentially open if FAA approval is received.
Kendall Little at the Naples Daily-News says the three biggest reasons for a potential relocation to a new Naples Airport are noise complaints, space constraints, and the possibility of adding commercial flights. (Full Story)
Broward College Joins JetBlue's Gateway University
This week Broward College announced that the school’s Emil Buehler Aviation Institute has become the first community college in the country to partner with JetBlue’s Gateway University.
Established in 2008, the JetBlue Gateway University offer a clearly defined development plan with training and JetBlue mentorship for the next generation of pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians.
The partnership with Broward College makes sense considering that Fort Lauderdale is one of JetBlue’s six focus cities together with New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan.
In the official announcement, JetBlue Gateway Director Nancy Hocking emphasized why the partnership was a win-win for JetBlue and Broward College:
“Broward College has a strong reputation and has shown their ability to successfully prepare students for careers in aviation, and we’re thrilled to welcome these pilots to our program and support them as they move forward on their course to a rewarding career in commercial aviation.” – Nancy Hocking
Avelo Begins Exclusive Nonstop Service From Destin
This week Avelo Airlines announced the commencement of exclusive nonstop service that will connect the Florida Panhandle with Southern Connecticut.
The inaugural flight with passengers and Avelo representatives departed Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) on Friday and landed just under 3 hours later at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) which Avelo describes as Southern Connecticut’s most convenient airport.
Avelo will operate the new route twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays utilizing Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. One-way fares start at $90 with round-trip fares priced just over $200.
Avelo’s commencement of flight operations in the Florida Panhandle comes just two months after the Houston-based carrier announced it would begin flying out of Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.
The other airport in the equation is also on the verge of a major upgrade for customers in the New York metropolitan area. In February, HVN was awarded a $2.5 million FAA grant for the construction of a new passenger terminal.
Start-Up Plans All Electric eVTOL Service In South Florida
This month UrbanLink, a South Florida-based advanced air mobility (AAM) company announced plans to “revolutionize transportation as the first provider of all electric zero emission AAM solutions in South Florida and beyond.
After the initial launch in South Florida, UrbanLink plans to expand to other major markets like Los Angeles that are struggling with congestion, space constraints and traditional airport facilities operating near capacity.
In the official press release, UrbanLink Founder and Chairman Ed Wegel explains the timing and opportunity for his AAM venture:
“Our team is passionate about leveraging Advanced Air Mobility to create smarter, more efficient transportation solutions that positively impact communities. South Florida, with its unique geographical and demographic characteristics, presents an exciting opportunity for us to demonstrate the transformative potential of AAM. – UrbanLink Founder & Chairman Ed Wegel
One of UrbanLink’s strategic partners in the new venture is Lilium, the German maker of all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVOTL) jets. Earlier this month, UrbanLink announced the purchase of 20 Lilium jets.
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