Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
History, Facts and Overview

(Fort Myers, Florida - FL, USA)

Southwest Florida Airport was born in 1973, when the nearby Page Field Airport close to central Fort Myers needed to be replaced, due to space constraints. A site conveniently close to the new I-75 interstate was chosen and in 1983, the Southwest Florida Regional Airport was completed and the following year began to serve international flights, with Germany soon becoming a popular destination.

In 1993, the airport became known officially as the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). In 1993, due to the increasing size of Boeing aircraft, it became necessary to extend the runway to more than 3,600 metres / 11,800 feet. As of 2004, the Midfield Terminal Complex opened at a cost of more than $400 million, soon followed by the new generation of enormous Airbus passenger planes.


There is one terminal located at the Southwest Florida International Airport, with a bureau de change situated on the upper level and cash machines on both levels, as well as postal and lost property services. There are many fast-food eateries and restaurants in the terminal, mainly on the upper floor, such as the Beaches Boardwalk Café, Casa Bacardi, Cinnabon, Sbarro and Starbucks.

Several gift and souvenir shops are also dotted around the building, including the Brighton Collectibles, Island Paradise and the Shell Factory. There is a business center at Fort Myers' Southwest Florida Airport, where fax machines, photocopying and computer access is available, while conference facilities are also available at the nearby Wynstar Inn and Suites Hotel.