Palm Beach International Airport is located in West Palm Beach, Florida and serves Palm Beach County, Florida. It has the IATA Airport Code PBI. Palm Beach Airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports.

History

Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA) commenced commercial services as Morrison Field in 1936. Morrison Field was named in honour of Miss Grace K. Morrison who was a key participant in the planning and organization of the airfield. The first flight departing the field was a New York bound Eastern Air Lines DC-2 in 1936, and officially dedicated on December 19, 1936.

In 1937 the airport expanded from a airstrip and administration building when Palm Beach Aero Corporation obtained a lease and built hangars, and the first terminal on the south side of the airport, it became known as the Eastern Air Lines Terminal. The field was used by the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, commencing in 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor Morrison field was used as a base for the allied invasion of France, many planes taking off from Morrison for the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

In 1947 the Army Air Corps moved to Mobile, Alabama and commercial services resumed from Morrison Field. On August 11, 1948, the name of the airport was changed to Palm Beach International Airport. The airport was again used by the military in 1951. The Morrison Air Force Base was used for training nearly 23 000 airmen during the Korean War. Following the War, the federal government attempted to make the airport a permanent military base, however the County took over airport operations in 1959.

In 1974, Delta Air Lines constructed the airport's second main terminal. On October 23, 1988, the David McCampbell Terminal, named for World War II naval flying ace, Medal of Honor winner and Palm Beach County resident David McCampbell, was officially dedicated.

As of 1998, 5.8 million had passangers passed through Palm Beach International Airport.

Airlines

The following airlines fly to Palm Beach International Airport:

Concourse A

• Gulfstream International Airlines dba Continental Connection (Freeport, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, and Tampa)

Concourse B

• Continental Airlines (Cleveland, Houston/Intercontinental, and Newark)
• Continental Express (Houston/Intercontinental)
• Northwest Airlines (Detroit)
• Southwest Airlines (Baltimore/Washington, Long Island/Islip, Philadelphia, and Tampa)
• US Airways (Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington/Reagan

Concourse C

• American Airlines (Boston, Chicago/O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York/LaGuardia)
• CanJet
• Comair dba Delta Connection (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (Covington, KY))
• Delta Air Lines (Atlanta and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (Covington, KY))
• Delta Air Lines dba Song Airlines (Boston, Hartford, New York/Kennedy, New York/La/Guardia)
• Independence Air (Washington/Dulles)
• United Airlines (Chicago/O'Hare)

Reference

• The History Of Palm Beach International Airport

External links

• Palm Beach International Airport Homepage