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This airport, serving Fort Myers and other major cities in southwest Florida, was not started until 1983. It was originally intended to be a regional airport that redirected traffic from the congested Page Field airport in Fort Myers. However, as early as 1984, Southwest Florida Regional Airport was hosting international flights to Europe. Finally, it was rebranded Southwest Florida International Airport in 1993, and facilities were upgraded to better handle overseas flights, including a longer runway for potential use by Concordes. However, today, the largest aircraft in regular service at the airport are Airbus A330-300s for flights to Munich and Dusseldorf.
Today, the Southwest Florida International Airport services some seven million passengers a year. The new midfield terminal, which currently holds three concourses with 28 gates, is undergoing renovation again to expand capacity to five concourses with 65 gates. There is also a construction project to build another runway, to open in 2010.
Long Term Parking - Long-term parking is located near the cell phone lot, just beyond the short-term parking garage. The rate is $2 per hour, with a daily maximum of $10, and a weekly rate of $56. The short-term parking lot may be used for multiple-day parking as well, but there is a daily rate of $18 and no weekly discount.
Discount Airport Parking - The cheapest long-term parking is the long-term parking lot. However, for stays under one hour, the short-term lot may be a better deal, as the first 20 minutes are free and each twenty minutes thereafter is $1. The airport also has a cell phone lot, where 30 parking spaces are available for free as long as drivers remain within in their vehicles.
Handicapped Parking - Handicapped parking is available at both the short and long term parking lots. Shuttles are provided from long-term parking to the passenger terminal as well.
Airport Hotel Parking - Several nearby hotels have shuttles going to and from the airport, but a few only run during specific hours. Some hotels less than five miles away are La Quinta Inn & Suites, Best Western Airport Inn, Comfort Suites, Country Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn, Sleep Inn and Wynstar Inn & Suites.
