| Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
IATA: FLL – ICAO: KFLL – FAA LID: FLL  FLL | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Broward County | ||
| Operator | Broward County | ||
| Serves | South Florida | ||
| Location | Broward County, Florida | ||
| Hub for |
| ||
| Elevation AMSL | 9 ft / 3 m | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 9L/27R | 9,000 | 2,743 | Asphalt |
| 9R/27L | 5,276 | 1,608 | Asphalt |
| 13/31 | 6,930 | 2,112 | Asphalt |
| Statistics (2009) | |||
| Total passengers | 21,060,144 | ||
| Aircraft operations | 270,663 | ||
| Based aircraft | 57 | ||
| Source: Federal Aviation Administration | |||
Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport (IATA: FLL, ICAO: KFLL, FAA LID: FLL) is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles (5 km) southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale. It is also located near the city of Hollywood and is 21 miles (33.7 km) north of Miami.
In 2009, the airport processed 21,060,144 passengers including 3,027,412 international passengers. In 2008, the airport processed 22,621,500 passengers, a 0.3% drop from 2007 totals. From January through December 2008, the top five air carriers in terms of market share were: Spirit Airlines at 18.8%; Southwest Airlines at 13.9%; JetBlue Airways at 12.8%; Delta Air Lines at 12.1%; and US Airways at 9.0%. At that time, FLL was ranked as the 22nd busiest airport (in terms of passenger traffic) in the United States as well as the nation's 15th busiest international air gateway. 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, AirTran Airways, JetBlue Airways, and Caribbean Airlines. The airport is the largest base 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 Naval Air Station 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 a main training base for Naval Aviators and enlisted naval aircrewmen flying the TBF and TBM Avenger for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aboard aircraft carriers and from expeditionary airfields ashore.
NAS Fort Lauderdale was closed on October 1, 1946 and 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 was affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma. Katrina struck as a Category 1 and caused minor damage, however the airport was closed for about a 48 hour period. However, when Hurricane Wilma made landfall in October 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 Category 2 when its center passed to the west of 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 Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise.
Facilities and aircraft
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| FAA diagram of FLL |
Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport covers an area of 1,380 acres (558 ha) 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
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, 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.
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 8,000 ft (2,400 m). over a five year period. Currently, the plan is being sent for approval by the FAA.
Terminals
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| Destinations with direct service from FLL |
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 two concourses (B & C) and 18 gates.
Continental Airlines operates a Presidents Club in Concourse C, which opened with the new Terminal in 2002. It is Continental's only clubroom location in Florida.
Terminal 2 - Delta Terminal
Terminal 2 has one concourse (D) and nine gates. Delta Air Lines operates a Sky Club here - one of six clubrooms in the state of Florida. This Terminal is only used by Delta, Delta Connection and Air Canada.
Terminal 3 - Main Terminal
Terminal 3 has two concourses (E & F) and 20 gates.
Terminal 4 - International Terminal
Terminal 4 has one concourse (H) and 10 gates.
Note: Terminal 4 handles all non-precleared international arrivals, in addition to the departures listed in the table.
International arrival gates are H4, H6, H8, H9, and H10.
Commuter airlines use gate "J" which is on the lower level adjacent to recheck.
Airlines and destinations
Airlines Destinations Terminal/Concourse
Air Canada Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson
Seasonal: Ottawa 2-D
Air Sunshine Guantanamo Bay 4-J
Air Transat Seasonal: Montréal-Trudeau, Quebec City, Toronto-Pearson 4-H
Aires Barranquilla, Bogota, Cali, Cartagena 4-H
AirTran Airways Allentown/Bethlehem, Atlanta, Baltimore, Columbus (OH), Harrisburg, Indianapolis, Lexington (KY), Milwaukee, Pittsburgh
Seasonal: Akron/Canton, Flint 3-E
Allegiant Air Elmira, Grand Rapids, Greenville (SC), Huntington (WV), Knoxville, Plattsburgh (NY), Savannah (GA) 1-B
American Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York-JFK, Port-au-Prince 3-F
Avianca Bogotá 4-H
Bahamasair Freeport, Nassau 3-E
Bimini Island Air Bimini, Marsh Harbour, North Eleuthera, Freeport, Nassau, Treasure Cay 4-J
CanJet Seasonal: Halifax, Montréal-Trudeau, Quebec City, Toronto-Pearson 4-H
Caribbean Airlines Port of Spain 4-H
Caribbean Airlines operated by Air Jamaica Kingston, Montego Bay 4-H
Condor Seasonal: Frankfurt 4-H
Continental Airlines Chicago-O'Hare [begins February 17], Cleveland, Denver [begins February 17], Houston-Intercontinental, Newark 1-C
Continental Connection operated by Gulfstream International Airlines Andros Town, Freeport, Governor's Harbour, Great Exuma Island, Key West, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, New Bight, North Eleuthera, South Bimini, Tallahassee, Tampa, Treasure Cay 1-C
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia
Seasonal: Hartford 2-D
Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines Tallahassee 2-D
Frontier Airlines Denver 1-B
Frontier Airlines operated by Republic Airlines Seasonal: Milwaukee 1-B
JetBlue Airways Austin, Boston, Buffalo, Cancún, Hartford, Long Beach, Nassau, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Newburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, San Francisco, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Washington-Dulles, Washington-National, White
Plains
3-F
Southwest Airlines Albany, Austin, Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago-Midway, Denver, Hartford, Houston-Hobby, Jacksonville, Kansas City , Las Vegas, Long Island/Islip, Manchester (NH) [Resumes March 12], Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix , Providence, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, Tampa 1-B
Spirit Airlines Aguadilla, Armenia, Aruba, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Barranquilla, Bogotá, Boston, Cancún, Cartagena, Charleston (WV) [begins March 3], Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth [begins May 5], Detroit, Guatemala City, Kingston, Las Vegas, Latrobe (PA) [begins February 12], Lima, Los Angeles, Managua, Medellin, Montego Bay, Myrtle Beach, Nassau, New York-LaGuardia, Niagara Falls [begins January 27], Orlando, Panama City (Panama), Plattsburgh (NY) [begins January 14], Port-au-Prince, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San José de Costa Rica, San Juan, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador (Bahamas), Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo, Tampa, Washington-National
Seasonal: Punta Cana 4-H
Sunwing Airlines Seasonal: Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson 3-F
Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia Stockholm-Arlanda [charter] 4-H
US Airways Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Washington-National 3-E
US Airways operated by Republic Airlines Washington-National
Virgin America Los Angeles, San Francisco 1-C
WestJet Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson
Seasonal: Halifax [begins February 19], Ottawa, Quebec City 3-F
Cargo carriers
ABX Air
Bimini Island Air
Burlington Air Express
Emery Worldwide
Mountain Air Cargo
GA Overcrowding Reliever Facility
See Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport
Ground Transport
FLL is served by Broward County Transit bus Route 1 which offers connecting service through the Central Terminal, and also service to Aventura, in Miami-Dade County. Rail service is provided by Tri-Rail, at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport Tri-Rail station, where there is a shuttle that goes to the airport. The airport also offers airport parking and has rental car facilities.
Accidents and Incidents
On May 18, 1972, an Eastern Air Lines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 had its landing gear collapse and tail section separate during landing. The aircraft then caught fire but all passengers and crew were able to safely evacuate.
On January 1, 1975 Douglas C-47A N9BC of Air O'Hare ditched off Fort Lauderdale. The aircraft was on a flight from Grand Bahama International Airport, Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport when the starboard propeller oversped and had to be feathered. The port engine then overheated and lost power. All three people on board survived.
On April 23, 1980, Douglas C-47B N709Z of Florida Preferred Equity crashed near Dania, Florida when it stalled whilst a go-around was performed. The aircraft was on a private passenger flight from South Bimini Airport, Bahamas, to Fort Lauderdale International Airport. One of the eight people on board was severely injured.
On August 2, 1985, Delta Air Lines Flight 191 originated at Fort Lauderdale, en route to Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles. Wind shear and pilot error caused the aircraft to crash upon landing Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
(source:wikipedia)
