Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

caption =
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 = [http://www.broward.org/airport 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 AdministrationFAA-airport|ID=FLL|use=PU|own=PU|site=03192.*A, effective 2007-03-15]

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Airport codes|FLL|KFLL|FLL 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. 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. Currently 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. [cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-02-15-orlando-airport_x.htm |title=Orlando surpasses Miami as Florida's busiest airport |date=15 February 2005 |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-01-27] The facility also ranks as one of the 50 busiest airports in the world.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport serves as a focus city for Allegiant Air, 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 NAS 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 the main training base for naval aviators. George H. W. Bush learned to fly while stationed at the base in 1943.

The Naval Air Station closed on October 1, 1946.

The closed base was transferred 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 Cat 3 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 convert|1380|acre|ha|0|lk=on and has three runways:
* 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 [to be expaned in 2008]
* 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, [ [http://www.broward.org/airport/community_airportexpansion.htm#ENVIRONMENTAL Broward County - Airport ] ] 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. [ [http://www.broward.org/airport/community_airportexpansion.htm#BACKGROUND Broward County - Airport ] ]

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 convert|8000|ft|m|abbr=on. over a five year period. Currently, the plan is being sent for approval by the FAA. [ [http://www1.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI50551/ WSVN-TV - Local News - Broward Commissioners vote in favor of FLL runway expansion ] ]

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).

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.

Terminal 1 (New Terminal)

Terminal 1 has 2 concourses (B & C) and 18 gates.

Concourse B