St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport
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| St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport |
| IATA | PIE |
| ICAO | KPIE |
| FAA | PIE |
| Type | Public–civil-military |
| Owner | Pinellas County |
| Operator | St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport Authority |
| City-served | Tampa Bay area, St. Petersburg, Florida, Clearwater, Florida |
| Location | Pinellas County, Florida |
| Elevation-f | 26 |
St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport is a public airport serving the Tampa Bay area on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It is located in Pinellas County, Florida between St. Petersburg, Florida and Clearwater, Florida and functions as a secondary commercial airport for the Tampa Bay Area. The airport serves a mix of scheduled passenger airlines, cargo operators, general aviation users, and military tenants, and has played roles in regional development, aviation training, and air travel competition with nearby Tampa International Airport and Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport.
History
The airport opened in 1941 as a municipal airfield and expanded during World War II when it hosted training and support activities for the United States Army Air Forces and related contractors. Postwar growth reflected patterns seen at Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and other Florida gateways as commercial aviation rose in the 1950s and 1960s. Carrier service evolved with entries and withdrawals by legacy carriers such as Eastern Air Lines, National Airlines (1934–1980), and later by low-cost carriers modeled after Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. The airport underwent runway expansions and terminal renovations amid competition with Tampa International Airport and changing market dynamics driven by carriers like Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines.
Pinellas County and local authorities engaged with federal programs administered by Federal Aviation Administration for improvement grants similar to projects at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. The facility also hosted aviation events and museum exhibits connected to organizations like Experimental Aircraft Association while supporting military units comparable to those at MacDill Air Force Base.
Facilities and infrastructure
The field comprises multiple runways, taxiways, an air traffic control tower, and terminal facilities serving ticketing, baggage, and passenger screening under standards set by the Transportation Security Administration. The passenger terminal includes gates, rental car facilities aligned with companies such as Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Avis, and fixed-base operator services for general aviation comparable to those at Palm Beach International Airport. Cargo areas accommodate freight handled by firms with operations similar to FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.
Support infrastructure includes aircraft rescue and firefighting units, fuel farms, and hangar complexes used by corporate flight departments, flight schools like those associated with Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University models, and maintenance providers. The airport's layout and pavement strength are documented in databases used by organizations such as the Airports Council International.
Airlines and destinations
Scheduled commercial service has shifted over time, with airlines offering point-to-point routes linking the airport to leisure and regional markets. Carriers that have operated scheduled flights include low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers modeled after Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Allegiant Air, and network operators akin to American Airlines and Delta Air Lines in adjacent markets. Destinations typically include tourist and business gateways in the continental United States and seasonal services to vacation markets similar to routes between Tampa International Airport and cities such as New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Orlando, Florida.
Charter and seasonal operations connect to resort destinations and support the cruise industry visiting Port Tampa Bay and Port of Palm Beach with aircraft chartered from operators in the manner of Sun Country Airlines arrangements.
Ground transportation and access
Ground access includes highways such as U.S. Route 19 and regional arterials connecting to the Florida State Road system, facilitating transfers to Tampa, Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Clearwater, Florida. Rental car plazas provide links to national companies including Avis Budget Group affiliates, while taxi, rideshare platforms like Uber (company) and Lyft, Inc., and shuttle services operate to area hotels and cruise terminals. Public transit connections are available through agencies analogous to Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and regional bus services linking to commuter hubs and light rail proposals similar to projects proposed for Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority corridors.
Parking facilities include short-term and long-term lots, economy lots used for park-and-ride, and ground transportation staging areas managed by county authorities with policies informed by federal modal guidance.
Operations and statistics
The airport's operations encompass commercial passenger enplanements, aircraft operations for general aviation, air taxi, and military activity. Annual passenger numbers have varied with market forces, often compared to statistics reported for Tampa International Airport and subject to trends that affect other Florida airports like Orlando International Airport and Miami International Airport. The airport publishes operations data tracked by entities such as the Federal Aviation Administration and industry analysts at Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Cargo throughput and based aircraft counts provide insight into the airfield's mix of activity, with based units including piston, turboprop, and business jet categories similar to general aviation profiles at Palm Beach International Airport and Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport.
Accidents and incidents
Over its operational history, the airport has experienced incidents ranging from minor runway incursions to aircraft accidents investigated by agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board and reported to the Federal Aviation Administration. Notable occurrences at regional airports often involve flight crews from operators like CommutAir analogs, maintenance issues examined in NTSB reports, and safety recommendations implemented across U.S. airports including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Emergency responses have involved coordination with local agencies including Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and county fire-rescue units.