Tenants and partners, such as Collier Mosquito Control District, AvFuel, RexAir and EG Solutions make it possible 

 At Naples Airport, sustainability is connected to a larger goal: operating efficiently today while investing in an airport and community that are more resilient for the future. 

That approach can be seen not only in the airport’s own infrastructure and operations but also in innovative work taking place on the property by airport tenants. One example comes from Collier Mosquito Control District, which operates from the airport and uses drone-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology to make mosquito control more precise and environmentally responsible. 

Rather than treating entire habitats where mosquitoes could be breeding, LiDAR allows the district to map subtle differences in elevation and identify the low-lying areas where floodwater mosquitoes are most likely to develop. In 2026, the technology helped refine four treatment areas, reducing the acreage requiring treatment by nearly 63%. With repeat applications factored in, the district estimates the changes could avoid the use of more than 6,600 pounds of mosquito control material annually while saving approximately $101,000 in product costs. 

“LiDAR allows us to turn mosquito control into a much more surgical operation,” said Atom Rosales, director of technical development for Collier Mosquito Control. “Rather than treating 100 acres because mosquitoes may be present, we can pinpoint the small areas where they are actually breeding and target those locations directly. The result is a more efficient and environmentally responsible mosquito control program.” 

Naples Airport also serves as a base for aviation supporting Florida panther research. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission uses aircraft from airport tenant RexAir to collect monitoring data on Florida panthers. Flights typically take place two or three times a week and involve slow, low-altitude flying that allows FWC researchers to use directional radio telemetry to locate, identify and record the locations of radio-instrumented panthers and collect other natural-resource information. 

“People often think of aviation in terms of transportation, but it plays a much bigger role in Florida—it’s also a vital tool for wildlife conservation,” said Keith West, owner of RexAir. “For more than 10 years, our experienced pilots have flown tracking missions for biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, helping them monitor and protect Florida’s panthers. We’re proud that RexAir, based right here at Naples Airport, and the aviation industry as a whole, can play a role in preserving one of Florida’s most iconic and endangered species.” 

Among the airport’s most recent investments is a 270-panel rooftop solar project designed to advance the airport’s sustainability goals while also enhancing operational resiliency. The project is part of a broader effort to build infrastructure better prepared for the severe weather Southwest Florida can experience.  

Other resiliency initiatives include replacement and elevation of critical airfield lighting and electrical systems, and the addition of rapidly deployable Tiger Dam flood barriers designed to protect essential facilities, equipment and technology. The airport also conducts annual hurricane planning and training to ensure emergency response measures are ready throughout hurricane season. 

Naples Airport is also continuing its efforts to reduce emissions by transitioning ground vehicles and equipment to electric alternatives and establishing a transformative fuel initiative that made it the first airport on the East Coast to publicly offer a regular supply of sustainable aviation fuel. Together, those efforts look at both sides of airport operations, addressing emissions associated with aircraft as well as the vehicles and equipment working on the ground each day. 

Water quality and natural habitats remain important components of the airport’s sustainability strategy. Through a partnership with EG Solutions, its stormwater management program is designed to improve water quality, reduce wildlife hazards and protect surrounding waterways. The airport also supports the 140-acre Gordon River Greenway, an ecological corridor that helps preserve natural habitat while providing recreational connections for the community. 

For an airport that supported 125,926 takeoffs and landings in fiscal year 2025 and contributes an estimated $781 million in annual economic impact, sustainability requires balancing environmental responsibility with safety, efficiency and long-term community needs. That means there is no single project that defines the effort. 

Sustainability at Naples Airport can be found in solar panels generating renewable energy, electric equipment operating on the airfield, stormwater improvements protecting nearby waterways and new technologies helping airport tenants use resources more precisely.  

Together, those efforts represent an evolving approach to sustainability, one focused not only on reducing environmental impacts but also on creating a more resilient airport for the community it serves.