Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) – Award-Winning Destination Airport

FL – Palm Beach is a popular destination around the world. It embodies sun, fun, relaxation, and hospitality; Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is no exception. PBI offers many things to do, excellent customer service, and a relaxing environment. It’s no wonder that it’s an award-winning airport. PBI offers 40 non-stop destinations to Montreal, Ashville, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Boston, Washington, Raleigh, Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas, and many other locations. Let’s examine why Palm Beach Airport is so highly revered. Palm Beach International Airport History

Palm Beach International Airport got its start in 1936 as Morrison Field. The airport only had a landing strip and a small administration building. The first flight was made by Eastern Airlines when it departed Morrison Field for New York. The first expansion of the airport occurred in 1937 when the Palm Beach Aero Corporation struck a deal with Morrison Field to build hangars and an FBO on the field. It was called the Eastern Airlines Terminal.

The airfield operated smoothly until 1939, when WWII started. At that time, the United States began building up its defenses. Part of those defenses were at Morrison Field, and in 1940, the airport was converted for military purposes and activated in 1941.

After Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US further increased its defensive buildup across the nation, and that included Morrison Field. As a result, the airstrip had 6,200 planes and 45,000 fliers, and on D-Day on June 6, 1944, many of those planes and personnel departed Morrison Field for Normandy, France.

On June 30, 1947, Morrison Field was deactivated, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Three months later, the county took over the airfield and the two-story former Air Force operations building in September. In 1948, Morrison Field was officially renamed Palm Beach International Airport.

Over the next several decades, Palm Beach International Airport would continue to grow and expand. Their dedication to expansion and innovation can be seen today. They are renovating and expanding Concourse B, performing maintenance on their parking garage, and renovating and upgrading Taxiway B.

Airlines and Aircraft Operations

Palm Beach is served by 13 airlines, including Air Canada, Allegiant, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, BahamasAir, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, and United. It’s considered a medium-sized, mixed-use airport with an average of 444 daily aircraft operations. Forty-one percent of the airport traffic is considered transient general aviation, 30 percent of the operations are air taxis, and 29 percent are commercial. Military and local general aviation make up less than 1 percent each.

Palm Beach International Airport Runways

Palm Beach International Airport has three runways: Runway 10L/28R, Runway 14/32, and Runway 10R/28L. Pilots are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the runway and taxiway diagrams. This prevents unintentional landings on Taxiway Lima, located between Runway 10L/28R and Runway 10R/28L, a smaller runway used for general aviation aircraft. Runway 10L/28R is 10,001 feet long and 150 feet wide. Runway 14/32 is 6,931 feet long and 150 feet wide, and the general aviation Runway 10R/28L is 3,214 feet long and 75 feet wide.

Fun Things To Do at Palm Beach International Airport

When arriving or departing Palm Beach International Airport, remember to check out their art gallery on level two near the atrium. PBI takes pride in featuring art installations from local artists. In addition to the art gallery, the airport has a putting green, several taverns and lounges, Starbucks, Chili’s Too, Nick’s Tomato Pie, and several markets and water filling stations. If you’re looking for shopping, PBI offers Brighton, Brooks Brothers, Palm Beach Expressions, PGA, Oceanfront News, and Worth Ave News.

Dining and Culture in Palm Beach

One of the most popular things to do in Palm Beach is to visit the beaches, and there are several. The Palm Beach collection of beaches includes Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter Beach, Juno Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton, which is famous for its vibrant nightlife.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay, you might choose The Breakers Palm Beach Resort. This resort was built in 1896 in the Italian Renaissance style. In its more than 125 years, it’s been rebuilt twice. The first time was in 1903. The second time was in 1925. Today, it’s known for its excellent location, fantastic hospitality, and many things to do, including a spa and golf course.

Next, you might want to visit the Henry M. Flagler Museum. The massive 100,000-square-foot mansion was completed in 1902. Henry and his wife used it as a winter retreat until 1913. Today, it’s a National Historic Landmark, and visiting it can take you on a trip back in time to the Gilded Age. It even contains Henry’s private rail car.

If you’re looking for cultural enrichment, you’ll want to visit The Society of the Four Arts, located at 100 Four Arts Plaza in Palm Beach. It’s the city’s oldest and most respected cultural organization. They offer live performances, workshops, children’s programs, and art exhibits.

If you’re looking for dining experiences, check out Oceano Kitchen, Tommy Bahama, FireFin Grill, Lucky Shuck Oyster Bar, Pistache French Bistro, or the Avocado Grill. Palm Beach and the surrounding communities offer plenty of dining experiences. You can find American, Asian, and Caribbean cuisine and casual and fine dining experiences.

Aviation Fly-Ins and Events in Florida

Florida’s warm weather makes it a great place to hold fly-ins and events. Florida celebrates Aerospace and Aviation Day in January at Milton Air Hangar at the Sanford International Airport. They have the Daytona 500 Flyover in February; in March, the Space Coast Warbird Airshow will be held in Titusville.

Aviation Properties in and Around Palm Beach

If you’re looking for aviation properties in and around Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) or one of the surrounding airports, including Palm Beach County Park Airport (LNA), Palm Beach County Glades Airport (PHK), or North Palm Beach County Airport (F45), check out the properties at Aviation Property Network.