Daytona Beach International Airport

Daytona Beach International Airport is a public airport located three miles southwest of Daytona Beach, Florida, serving Volusia County, Florida, and is adjacent to Daytona International Speedway. The airport is owned and operated by the Volusia County Government, and is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designated reliever airport for Orlando International Airport. It is also near Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Daytona State College.

● Overview

Daytona Beach International Airport is a key transportation hub for the Central Florida region, providing access to Orlando, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, and other major cities in the state. The airport is situated near several major highways, including Interstate 95 and Interstate 4, making it easily accessible by car. The airport is also close to several popular tourist destinations, including Kennedy Space Center, Walt Disney World, and Universal Orlando Resort. Additionally, the airport is near the Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Daytona Beach Pier, and the Ocean Deck Beach Club.

● History

The airport was established in 1930 as a small airfield, and was later expanded during World War II to serve as a military airbase. The airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces and the United States Navy for training and operations. After the war, the airport was returned to civilian use and has since undergone several expansions and renovations, including the addition of a new terminal building in 1992, designed by HOK (firm). The airport has also been used by several notable individuals, including Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and Jimmy Doolittle, who flew with the United States Army Air Corps.

● Facilities

The airport has two runways, including a 10,500-foot runway and a 6,000-foot runway, and a single terminal building with several gates. The terminal building features a variety of amenities, including restaurants, shops, and a United States Customs and Border Protection facility. The airport is also home to several fixed-base operators, including Sheltair and Atlantic Aviation, which provide fuel, maintenance, and other services to general aviation aircraft. Additionally, the airport is near the Harley-Davidson dealership and the Daytona 200 motorcycle race.

● Airlines_and_Destinations

Daytona Beach International Airport is served by several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Silver Airways, which offer flights to destinations such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The airport is also served by several regional airlines, including ViaAir and Elite Airways, which offer flights to destinations such as Orlando Melbourne International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport. Additionally, the airport is a hub for Avelo Airlines and Frontier Airlines, which offer flights to destinations such as Tampa International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

● Statistics

In 2020, the airport served over 675,000 passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in the state of Florida. The airport also handles a significant amount of cargo traffic, with over 10,000 tons of cargo passing through the airport in 2020. The airport is a major economic driver for the region, generating over $1 billion in economic impact each year, according to a study by the University of Central Florida. The airport is also a major employer in the region, with over 1,000 people working at the airport, including employees of FedEx, UPS, and DHL Aviation.

● Accidents_and_Incidents

There have been several accidents and incidents at Daytona Beach International Airport over the years, including a 1996 crash of a ValuJet flight that killed all 110 people on board. The crash was attributed to a fire in the cargo hold, which was caused by the improper storage of oxygen generators. The incident led to significant changes in the way that cargo is handled and stored on commercial aircraft, and was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, the airport has been the site of several other incidents, including a 2019 incident in which a Cessna 172 aircraft crashed on takeoff, killing the pilot, and a 2020 incident in which a Boeing 737 aircraft experienced a mechanical issue and made an emergency landing, with passengers being transported to Orlando International Airport on a Delta Air Lines flight. The airport has also been used as a staging area for relief efforts during several natural disasters, including Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Dorian, with aircraft from American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) using the airport.