Punta Gorda Airport (Florida)

Punta Gorda Airport
(Formerly Charlotte County Airport)
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCharlotte County Airport Authority
ServesPunta Gorda, Florida
LocationUnincorporated Charlotte County, near Punta Gorda
Operating base for
Allegiant Air
Elevation AMSL26 ft (7.9 m)
Coordinates26°55′08″N 081°59′27″W / 26.91889°N 81.99083°W / 26.91889; -81.99083
Websiteflypgd.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Interactive map of Punta Gorda Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04/22 7,193 2,192 Asphalt
15/33 6,286 1,916 Asphalt
09/27 2,636 803 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Aircraft Operations (2024)131,340
Based Aircraft (2023)404
Total Passengers (2025)Increase 2,282,002
Sources: FAA,[1] BTS,[2] Airport Website[3]

Punta Gorda Airport[1][3] (IATA: PGD[4], ICAO: KPGD, FAA LID: PGD) is a public airport three miles east of Punta Gorda, in Charlotte County, Florida.[1] It is owned by the Charlotte County Airport Authority[1] and was formerly called Charlotte County Airport. The airport has mainly been used for general aviation, but has recently seen more scheduled airline service, with flights offered by Allegiant Air to fifty-one destinations.

The airport is home to the Florida International Air Show, an annual event which has featured various military demonstration teams, such as the United States Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the "Blue Angels"; the "U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds"; and the United States Army's "Sky Soldiers" (173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team) Cobra helicopter team.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings (enplanements) per year.[5] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 147,698 enplanements in calendar year 2011, an increase from 87,041 in 2010.[6]

History

World War II

In 1941, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built an airfield on the current airport property as a combat pilot training base for the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) Third Air Force, naming the facility Punta Gorda Army Airfield.[7][8] By 1944, the base reached its peak in housing 1,000 personnel, including two squadrons of student pilots.[7]

The base initially had forty Curtis P-40 Warhawks assigned, later transitioning to the North American P-51 Mustang.[7] Pursuit (i.e., "fighter") aircraft training in the P-40 and P-51 represented advanced phase training for Army Air Forces fighter pilots prior to their being deployed with USAAF operational units in Europe and the Pacific.[7] Punta Gorda Army Airfield was a subordinate command of 3rd Air Force, 3rd Fighter Command at Drew Field (now Tampa International Airport), and also had C-45 Expeditor and C-47 Skytrain transports assigned for support.[7]

The 27th Service Group, an all-black unit, was moved from MacDill Field in Tampa to provide training for support services to the air combat units.[7]

All base officers and some senior non-commissioned officers lived in Punta Gorda, while all student officers and most enlisted men lived in tent structures on the base. Semi-permanent buildings included an operations headquarters, classrooms, supply building, fire station, dispensary, chapel and the control tower.[7] The base had nose dock hangars, where just the nose of the aircraft was under shelter for repairs.[7]

Following the war, the U.S. Government issued a Deed of Release transferring all of the fixtures and improvements situated on the property to Charlotte County.[7]

Airline service

Airline service operated at PGD in the 1970s, but it declined in the early 1980s in the aftermath of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.[9] Florida Airlines operated flights from PGD to Tampa International Airport and Fort Myers (Page Field) from 1970 to 1976.[10][11] Pompano Airways began flights from PGD to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 1981 but the service was discontinued after less than a year.[12] Provincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA) operated service between PGD and Tampa International Airport in the early 1980s on Douglas DC-3 and Cessna 402 aircraft. PBA discontinued service to PGD in 1985, which was the last commercial service at PGD for the next two decades.[13]

Passenger service resumed at PGD in 2007. Skybus Airlines and DayJet began flights at the airport.[9] Skybus ceased operations on April 5, 2008, and DayJet on September 19, 2008.[9][14][15] A new passenger terminal, named the Bailey Terminal, opened in 2007 replacing a structure that had been destroyed by Hurricane Charley.[16]

The airport built a control tower in 2012 to accommodate additional commercial passenger service.[17]

Vision Airlines and Direct Air ended all service to PGD in 2012. Shortly after the collapse of Direct Air, Allegiant grew their PGD presence from three to seven cities and started basing aircraft full-time at the airport. Allegiant continues to grow at PGD; by the end of 2015, Allegiant served 29 destinations from PGD.

Frontier Airlines briefly served PGD in late 2016 to mid 2017 offering flights to Philadelphia, Chicago-O'Hare, and Trenton which had been relocated from nearby Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.[18] After the tourist season of that year, Frontier discontinued service to PGD and shifted the flights back to Fort Myers.[19]

Allegiant Air started service to Punta Gorda in 2014. The airline's first route to PGD was from Portsmouth International Airport at Pease.[20] The airline bought a share of a nearby hotel in early 2024 in an effort to increase tourism and flying into the region, but it sold its share in 2025.[21]

As of mid 2025, the airport is seeking additional low-cost airlines to provide service.[22] The announcement came as Allegiant revealed additional routes through Punta Gorda.[23]

Florida International Air Show

The airport has been home to the Florida International Air Show since 1981. The Florida International Air Show is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization operated wholly by several hundred volunteers that include airport staff.[24] Each year, the Florida International Air Show donates proceeds to various local charities that provide their volunteers for the setup, operations, and breakdown of the event. Through November 2016, the Florida International Air Show has donated $2.9 million to these local working charities throughout its history.[25]

Facilities

Bailey Terminal building at Punta Gorda Airport

Punta Gorda Airport covers 1,934 acres (783 ha) at an elevation of 26 feet (8 m). It has three asphalt runways: 04/22 is 7,193 by 150 feet (2,192 x 46 m), 15/33 is 6,286 by 150 feet (1,916 x 46 m), and 09/27 is 2,636 by 60 feet (803 x 18 m) and 6 gates.[1][26]

In 2007, the airport built a new terminal for the growing number of passengers.[27] It was named the Bailey Terminal for the seven Bailey brothers who were from Punta Gorda, and served in World War II and the Korean War.[27]

In the year ending December 31, 2023, the airport had 103,252 aircraft operations, an average of 283 per day: 85% general aviation, 12% airline, 2% military, and 1% air taxi. At the time, there were 404 aircraft based at this airport: 331 single-engine and 36 multi-engine airplanes, 21 jet, 11 helicopter, 4 ultra-light, and 1 glider.[1]

The airport is in the process of expanding including an improved terminal which will increase the airport's gates to 10.[28]

A new Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility capable of handling Boeing 737s, Boeing 767s, and various Airbus aircraft is in the final stages of completion as of April 2026. The facility will focus on replacing tires, engines, brakes, and electronics. The MRO is operated by a company with a Miami facility that is looking to expand its footprint and to provide full-time maintenance for commercial airlines and large jets. The facility will work closely with the Charlotte Technical College, which opened a new training facility at the airport in early 2026, to increase the aviation maintenance training pipeline and to close the gap of the number of aviation technicians the industry needs.[29][30]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Akron/Canton,[31] Albany (NY),[32] Allentown,[33] Appleton,[32] Asheville,[34] Atlantic City,[35] Belleville/St. Louis,[36] Cedar Rapids/Iowa City,[37] Charlotte/Concord,[38] Chattanooga,[39] Chicago–Midway,[40] Chicago/Rockford,[41] Cincinnati,[42] Columbus–Rickenbacker,[43] Dayton,[44] Des Moines,[32] Flint,[33] Fort Wayne,[45] Grand Rapids,[46] Harrisburg,[47] Indianapolis,[33] Kansas City,[32] Knoxville,[48] La Crosse (begins October 1, 2026),[49] Lexington,[50] Louisville,[51] Myrtle Beach,[52] Nashville,[53] Newburgh,[54] New Orleans,[55] Niagara Falls,[56] Peoria,[57] Pittsburgh,[58] Portsmouth,[59] Providence,[32] South Bend,[60] Springfield/Branson,[61] Springfield (IL),[62] Toledo,[63] Trenton,[64] Washington–Dulles[65]
Seasonal: Bangor,[66] Boston (begins February 13, 2027),[67] Elmira,[68] Moline/Quad Cities,[69] Omaha,[32] Plattsburgh,[70] Richmond,[71] Rochester (NY),[32] Sioux Falls,[70] St. Cloud (MN),[72] Syracuse,[32] Traverse City[73]
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul[74]

Statistics

The airport's control tower

The airport had back-to-back record years with 1.9 million passengers in 2024 and nearly 2.3 million in 2025. There were 143,678 aircraft movements in 2025, up from 142,673 in 2024.[28]

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from PGD
(February 2025 – January 2026)[75]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Grand Rapids, Michigan 58,070 Allegiant
2 Cincinnati, Ohio 53,580 Allegiant
3 Flint, Michigan 53,510 Allegiant
4 Indianapolis, Indiana 44,370 Allegiant
5 Allentown, Pennsylvania 40,620 Allegiant
6 Appleton, Wisconsin 39,450 Allegiant
7 South Bend, Indiana 37,350 Allegiant
8 Portsmouth, New Hampshire 35,800 Allegiant
9 Fort Wayne, Indiana 34,240 Allegiant
10 Chicago/Rockford, Illinois 34,180 Allegiant

Annual traffic

PassengersYear0300,000600,000900,0001,200,0001,500,0001,800,000200720102013201620192022PassengersAnnual passenger traffic
Annual passenger traffic (enplaned + deplaned) at PGD since 2010[76][77]
Passengers
2010 Increase 182,423
2011 Increase 291,626
2012 Decrease 219,357
2013 Increase 333,611
2014 Increase 628,075
2015 Increase 836,472
2016 Increase 1,118,303
2017 Increase 1,293,337
2018 Increase 1,577,164
2019 Increase 1,644,916
2020 Decrease 1,189,681
2021 Increase 1,569,836
2022 Increase 1,846,097
2023 Increase 1,901,819
2024 Increase 1,925,128
2025 Increase 2,282,002

Accidents & incidents

  • On February 11, 2017, a Quad City Challenger II impacted trees and terrain just after departure from Punta Gorda. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received minor injuries.[78]
  • On July 14, 2025, a man died on an Allegiant flight while on approach to Punta Gorda.[79]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for PGD" (PDF). FAA. . Federal Aviation Administration. effective January 23, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Data Elements". Transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Punta Gorda Airport". Charlotte County Airport Authority. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  4. ↑ "IATA Airport Code Search (PGD: Punta Gorda / Charlotte County)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2011" (PDF, 1.7 MB). Federal Aviation Administration. October 9, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Historic Punta Gorda Army Airfield" (PDF). Charlotte County History Services. 2021.
  8. ↑ "Historic Punta Gorda Army Air Field". Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society. 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 "PUNTA GORDA AIRPORT". Charlotte County Florida Weekly. August 17, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Florida Airlines". Sunshine Skies. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  11. ↑ Hogan, Bill (August 10, 1976). "Florida Air Flights Suspended". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 7. Retrieved November 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Pompano Airways". Sunshine Skies. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  13. ↑ Pollack, Robin (March 16, 1987). "Small market hinders airfield, manager says". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 26. Retrieved November 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "On this date in 2008: Skybus goes out of business". Charlotte County Florida Weekly. April 3, 2019.
  15. ↑ "DayJet Discontinues Operations". Aviation Today. September 22, 2008.
  16. ↑ Ruane, Laura (September 21, 2007). "Airline coming to Charlotte". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 41. Retrieved November 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Punta Gorda air traffic control tower comes online". WBBH-TV. February 15, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Punta Gorda Airport welcomes new, nonstop service from Frontier Airlines starting this fall" (PDF). FlyPGD. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  19. ↑ Ruane, Laura (July 19, 2017). "Frontier confirms it's not returning to Punta Gorda Airport". News-Press. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Allegiant Celebrates Start of New Nonstop Service to Punta Gorda for Spring Training Season". ir.allegiantair.com. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  21. ↑ Miller, Meagan (November 26, 2025). "After Sunseeker sale, questions rise over Allegiant's long-term plans at Punta Gorda Airport". wbbh. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  22. ↑ Semon, Nancy (August 22, 2025). "Punta Gorda Airport Seeks New Carriers to Expand Offerings". Gulfshore Business. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  23. ↑ Semon, Nancy (July 30, 2025). "Allegiant adds New Orleans route as Punta Gorda Airport expands". Gulfshore Business. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Taxes" (PDF). Florida International Air Show Inc. December 31, 2016 – via Guidestar.
  25. ↑ ""About the Florida International Air Show". Florida International Air Show. October 1, 2016.
  26. ↑ "PGD airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com.
  27. 1 2 "CLEARED for TAKEOFF". Charlotte Florida Weekly. June 9, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Dawson, Anastasia (January 28, 2026). "Punta Gorda Airport breaks passenger record amid expansion". Business Observer. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  29. ↑ Semon, Nancy (April 17, 2026). "NAS MRO hangar opening at Punta Gorda will create 200 jobs". Gulfshore Business. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  30. ↑ "CTC opens aviation training facility in Punta Gorda". Gulfshore Business. March 25, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Allegiant Air flying out of Akron-Canton Airport after leaving Cleveland Hopkins". October 26, 2021.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Finaldi, Laura (March 22, 2018). "Punta Gorda adds flights to upstate New York, Wisconsin, Nebraska". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  33. 1 2 3 Finaldi, Laura (December 4, 2022). "Allegiant Air resumes operations at Punta Gorda Airport". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  34. ↑ Weber, Anne; Rose, Dayten (May 10, 2023). "24 destinations with nonstop flights from Asheville Regional Airport". 6AM - AVLtoday. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Allegiant Airlines Announces Flights at Atlantic City International Airport". August 13, 2025.
  36. ↑ Koziatek, Mike (February 13, 2024). "Allegiant adds a nonstop flight out of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport". Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Eastern Iowa Airport sets record for passengers in 2025". Corridor Business Journal. January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  38. ↑ Mahoney, Ashley (September 16, 2025). "How to get cheap flights out of Concord-Padgett Regional Airport". Axios. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  39. ↑ Howard, Addison (August 8, 2025). "UPDATE: Chattanooga Airport brings back nonstop flights to Punta Gorda, FL". Local 3 News. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Airline extends service from region to Boston, Chicago and Houston". Business Observer. September 28, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  41. ↑ Neuzil, Laura (April 29, 2025). "Chicago Rockford International Airport announces new flights, record passenger numbers". WIFR. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  42. ↑ Ogwude, Haadiza (September 19, 2024). "Looking to get away? Here are 100 nonstop flights that depart from CVG". The Enquirer. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  43. ↑ Hart, Nathan (September 21, 2025). "John Glenn Columbus nonstop flights to go somewhere warm in winter 2025". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  44. ↑ Lynch, Greg (November 19, 2025). "Where can you fly direct from Dayton?". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  45. ↑ Bullock, Alexander (November 20, 2025). "Allegiant Air begins new route from Fort Wayne to Fort Lauderdale, Fla". 21 Alive Now. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  46. ↑ Roguski, Randy (November 19, 2024). "Allegiant Airlines announces 3 new flights from Jacksonville | Jacksonville Today". Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  47. ↑ Urie, Daniel (August 10, 2021). "Allegiant to offer non-stop flights from Harrisburg International Airport to Fort Lauderdale". pennlive. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  48. ↑ Franklin, Mariah (November 14, 2025). "With Thanksgiving travel looming, here's how airports serving McGhee Tyson are faring". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Allegiant Air adds 8 new Florida routes starting fall 2026". WINK News. May 19, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  50. ↑ Thompson, Ella (June 30, 2025). "Allegiant adds new destination to SRQ, beginning in November". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  51. ↑ Smith, Connor N. (November 18, 2025). "Allegiant launches nonstop service from Louisville to Gulf Shores". spectrum news 1. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  52. ↑ Frolik, Cornelius (November 18, 2025). "Allegiant adds new flight from Dayton to Myrtle Beach". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  53. ↑ Jackson, Aubriella; Pidgeon, Jaxie (November 18, 2025). "Allegiant Air pilots picketing nationwide, including in Nashville". WKRN News 2. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  54. ↑ Saras, Vandana (June 27, 2025). "Take a trip to top summer destinations: Where Stewart flies direct". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Allegiant airlines adds 6 new Florida routes, some starting at $49. Where, when". The Palm Beach Post. July 29, 2025. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  56. ↑ Hill, Brinkley (November 18, 2025). "1,400 Allegiant pilots hit picket lines across the country". WINK News - Southwest Florida. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  57. ↑ Finaldi, Laura (January 12, 2021). "Air service between Sarasota-Bradenton and Peoria, Illinois, begins in May". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Allegiant adding flights to Pittsburgh and Indianapolis". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 12, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  59. ↑ McMenemy, Jeff (April 4, 2024). "Allegiant Air begins seasonal flights from Portsmouth, NH to St. Petersburg, Florida". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  60. ↑ Semmler, Ed (May 21, 2025). "Allegiant Air adding nonstop flight between South Bend and southeast Florida city". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  61. ↑ Pokin, Steve (July 1, 2016). "Pokin Around: Where are all the Springfield flamingos?". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  62. ↑ "Allegiant adds another flight from Springfield to Florida". KY 3. May 23, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  63. ↑ "Allegiant Airlines Adds Nonstop Flights from Sarasota to Toledo, Expands Florida Network". The Suncoast Post. August 19, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  64. ↑ "Allegiant Air returning to Trenton-Mercer with new routes". CommunityNews. November 18, 2025.
  65. ↑ "ALLEGIANT ANNOUNCES TWELVE NEW ROUTES WITH ONE-WAY FARES AS LOW AS $49*". PRNewsWire. November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  66. ↑ "Allegiant adds new Florida route out of Bangor airport". Bangor Daily News. July 11, 2023.
  67. ↑ "Allegiant Air will launch new nonstop Florida routes in February 2027". WFTV9. August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  68. ↑ Stiehl, Renata (November 19, 2024). "Allegiant Now Offering Direct Service from Elmira-Corning Regional Airport to Sarasota, Florida". WENY News. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  69. ↑ "Allegiant Air celebrates 15 years at Quad Cities International Airport, offers chance to win flight credit". KWQC. November 14, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  70. 1 2 "Punta Gorda Airport announces string of new flights". ABC 7. February 1, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  71. ↑ Gilbertson, Dawn (November 12, 2019). "Allegiant adding five new nonstop routes, three to Nashville, two to Florida". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  72. ↑ Mannette, Alice (January 13, 2026). "Allegiant to buy Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  73. ↑ Werly, Roxanne (November 16, 2023). "New non-stop flight for northern Michigan travelers to the Sunshine State". WPBN. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  74. ↑ "Sun Country adds 2 new nonstop routes from MSP". KSTP. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  75. ↑ "Punta Gorda, FL: Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)". Research and Innovative Technology Administration. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  76. ↑ "Monthly Statistics". Flypgd.com. April 26, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  77. ↑ "Airport scores growth in passengers". News-press.com. January 8, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  78. ↑ "Small plane crashes after leaving Punta Gorda Aiport". Suncoast News Network. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. February 12, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  79. ↑ Senne, Sommer (July 14, 2025). "1 reported dead at Punta Gorda Airport; investigation ongoing". WINK News - Southwest Florida. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
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