About Naples Airport

Activity generally increases between November and April.

Daily activity generally increases on Thursdays, Sundays and during holiday weekends.

While overall activity has only grown modestly, the Naples Airport has seen a significant increase in jet activity, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a worldwide increase in the demand for private air travel.  This change in consumer patterns coupled with Naples demographics, high end development and the airlines struggles in recovering from the pandemic is expected to drive demand for private air travel in the foreseeable future.

For FY22 (October to August) there have been an estimated 184,134 passengers flying through the Naples airport.

The airport receives passenger details only on customs flights, this estimate is based on those numbers along with concessions made to account for pilots and ferry flights.

No, the airport has no commercial airline service.

While the Naples Airport has had periodic commercial service in the past, there are no plans to restart commercial service in the future.  This is largely due to:

• The airport’s decades-old 75,000-pound weight limit, which severely reduces the aircraft options available to commercial carriers.
• The wide availability of commercial airlines at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).

All matters of airspace including altitude, flight paths, runway use, timing, and frequency of arriving and departing aircraft are solely under FAA jurisdiction and outside of the NAA’s control.

Aircraft exceeding 75,000 pounds maximum gross weight are prohibited from operating at APF.

Rare exceptions may apply, such as aircraft operated by Federal or State government, law enforcement, or emergency services.

Even as fuel prices have risen sharply in 2022, jet activity has not been impacted. Fuel and other service prices at the Naples Airport are often higher than other local airports. For example, the ramp fee for a large cabin jet (Gulfstream or Global Express) at Naples is $1,000 per night, whereas at Immokalee it is $75 per night.  Despite this, large jets almost universally choose Naples due to its location, even with the significant price difference.

Citizens have also asked ‘Do people park their jets in Naples because it’s cheaper and then drive to Miami?’ No, those who fly on private aircraft land at the airport nearest to their final destination.

Small general aviation aircraft are more price-sensitive.  Owner-operators of small piston aircraft are more conservative but are still likely to choose the airport nearest to their final destination.

Multiple independent surveys conducted by outside firms have shown that over 80% of customers either live in Collier County or were travelling for the purpose of purchasing a home.

Whether an aircraft is owned by a single person or multiple owners, those coming to the Naples Airport tend to have local connections.  This also holds true for charter flights, including those operated by large companies.  The aircraft may be owned by charter and fractional aircraft operators, but it is very likely that the passengers making use of the services are homeowners and business owners.

The Naples Airport is financially self-sustaining. The Naples Airport Authority (NAA) receives no local tax dollars and generates revenues primarily from hangar rent and fuel sales.

The Naples Airport does receive occasional grants from the state and federal government for safety and environmental improvements, however those grants are primarily funded through a system of aviation user fees collected through taxes on fuel, airfare, etc.

The NAA currently has three existing sets of contractual obligations with various government agencies and customers:

State and federal obligations currently exist through 2042.

Contractual obligations with tenants through 2053.

Existing lease with the City of Naples through 2068.