It appears the $500-million investment in Panama City’s new international airport is already starting to pay dividends, with Southwest Airlines pledging to start jet service to and from the Panhandle vacation spot next spring. The popular Dallas-based low-fare carrier has a strategic alliance agreement with the airport’s developer, Jacksonville-based St. Joe Co., for eight daily nonstop flights.
Southwest’s arrival is expected to stimulate job growth and economic development within Northwest Florida, along with providing another option to bring travelers from around the country to its beaches, says Britt Greene, St. Joe president and CEO. The major state landowner is building the airport on 4,000 acres as part of its massive 75,000-acre Bay West development.
A mix of industrial, office and retail space will be built adjacent to the airport that will eventually justify its status as one of the biggest in Florida and the Southeast, even if Panama City isn’t currently among its largest cities. And if you think the presence of Southwest doesn’t matter much, ask Tampa, Jacksonville and Fort Myers where they would be without it.
Of course, Southwest’s decision is already drawing criticism from those who wonder why the airline didn’t choose Pensacola instead. Well, that’s easily answered: St. Joe is willing to back up any financial losses that might result in the first two years as a result of fuel cost hikes or low passenger counts. Can your airport do that?
Panama City is expected to use Southwest as a lure to reel in vacationers from across the US to visit its beaches, which used to be known as a party place for high school and college students. Additional commercial development in recent years, such as Pier Park, has replaced many of the dive bars and trendy nightclubs that used to give city leaders headaches.
As a point of disclosure, I spent part of my misspent Alabama youth roaming Panama City’s beaches before moving to Florida, where I now live in easier driving distance to the Gulf of Mexico (but don’t go often enough). It isn’t all that easy driving from the peninsula to the Panhandle, but now that Southwest will be flying into Panama City, I might be compelled to go back.
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