Naples Airport to offer commercial flights for 1st time since 2017

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — American Airlines is bringing commercial flights back to Naples Airport for the first time in nearly a decade.

The Fort Worth-based airline has started selling tickets for daily flights between Naples Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, with service set to begin Dec. 2, according to the Naples Airport Authority.

American Airlines last served Naples in 2001, and the airport has not offered commercial flights since 2017.

Flights will operate aboard PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American, using 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets, which fall within Naples Airport's maximum takeoff weight of 75,000 pounds.

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All flights will also be scheduled around the airport's voluntary curfew of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily.

"Negotiations are progressing as anticipated," said Chris Rozansky, executive director of the Naples Airport Authority. "American has been a great partner during this process, even agreeing to schedule flights to avoid our voluntary nighttime curfew and committing to use of some of the quieter regional jets available today."

A few steps still need to happen before flights can take off, including finalizing a use agreement, completing facility improvements and getting approval from the Transportation Security Administration.

An update on those efforts is expected at the Aug. 20 Naples Airport Authority board meeting.

American Airlines would use the North Road Terminal, which has been undergoing a full renovation since 2022 after the building sustained damage from recent hurricanes.

Phase II of that renovation began in May and focuses on interior improvements, with architects and contractors now working to add modifications that can accommodate scheduled airline service, with work expected to wrap up in November.

A recent poll commissioned by the Naples Airport Authority found 80.3% of registered voters in the City of Naples and Collier County support restoring commercial airline service at the airport.

"We've been asked for years about the potential return of airline service," Rozansky said. "Travel doesn't get more convenient for our residents and visitors than catching a flight out of Naples Airport."

Passengers can book Naples flights through American's website at AA.com or through the airline's app.