Riley Lehman
•9/9/2026
RSW, Fla. (WINK)—21 years ago today, the Southwest Florida International Airport opened its new terminal to passengers.
The $438 million midfield terminal complex replaced a terminal that was only about 20 years old but had become too small very fast. The airport has continued to expand to meet the rapid growth in the area.
The opening came after a five-month delay, putting the date exactly two days before the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It was the first major airport terminal to open in the U.S. after 9/11, but it was mostly built before the attacks.
The terminal design was updated to meet the heightened security needs put in place after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Those changes continue to shape air travel today.
The midfield terminal complex featured 28 aircraft gates across three concourses. It is the largest public works project in Lee County history.
Retired Lee County Port Authority Deputy Executive Peter Modys said they had to redesign the building to accommodate a new baggage system.
"Before 9/11, the baggage just got moved from the front to the back. But with 9/11, there was a scanning process, so everything had to be looked at, x-rayed with CT machines to determine what was in the bag before it could go to the aircraft," Modys said. "So that meant these huge, very, very large piece of equipment there were probably about seven of them that would look at every piece of baggage you got put on the conveyor belt to the aircraft."
Passengers who have been flying from the airport for years say they've watched the airport continue to expand. Courtney Brooks has been traveling from Boston to Fort Myers since 2008 to visit her parents.
"This is one of the coziest, most welcoming airports that I travel through," Brooks said. "It's expanded each time. It seems like something more is being built."
RSW now serves more than 11 million passengers a year. That growth isn't slowing down.
The airport is currently working on an expansion of the terminal, which will include centralized TSA security and more concessions. According to Delta Airlines, the expansion will also include a Delta Sky Club.
The airport will be having a media tour of the new construction next month.
