World War I aviator Merle Fogg purchased an abandoned nine-hole golf course that was destroyed in the 1926 Miami hurricane for $1,200 in 1928. On May 1, 1929, the airport officially opened as Merle Fogg Field, with two criss-cross unpaved runways. At the start of World War II, it was commissioned by the United States Navy and renamed Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale. The runways were paved, and a control tower was built. The base was initially used for refitting civil airliners for military service before they were ferried across the Atlantic to Europe and North Africa. NAS Fort Lauderdale later became a main training base for Naval Aviators and enlisted naval air crewmen flying the Grumman TBF and TBM Avenger for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aboard aircraft carriers and from expeditionary airfields ashore. NAS Fort Lauderdale was the home base for Flight 19, the five TBM Avengers that disappeared in December 1945, leading in part to the notoriety of the Bermuda Triangle.
NAS Fort Lauderdale closed on October 1, 1946, and was transferred to county control, becoming Broward County International Airport.[6]
Commercial flights to Nassau began on June 2, 1953, and domestic flights began in 1958–1959: Northeast Airlines and National Airlines DC-6Bs flew nonstop to New York–Idlewild, and Northeast flew nonstop to Washington–National. In 1959, the airport opened its first permanent terminal building and assumed its current name.
1960–1999
In 1966, the airport averaged 48 airline operations a day; in 1972, it averaged 173 a day.
Low-cost airline traffic grew in the 1990s, with Southwest opening its base in 1996, Spirit in 1999, and JetBlue in 2000. Spirit Airlines made FLL a hub in 2002. In 2003, JetBlue made FLL a focus city. US Airways also planned a hub at Fort Lauderdale in the mid-2000s as part of its reorganization strategy before its merger with America West Airlines.[9] Eventually, low-cost competition forced several major legacy airlines to cut back service to FLL, with United pulling out of the airport entirely in 2008[10] and American Airlines moving its New York and Los Angeles services to West Palm Beach in 2013.[11]
2000–2014
In January 2000, South African Airways (SAA) introduced service from Cape Town to Atlanta via Fort Lauderdale on a Boeing 747. The flight from Atlanta to Cape Town operated nonstop.[12] Fort Lauderdale served both as a refueling stop and as a place to pick up passengers. SAA had just started code-sharing with Delta Air Lines, which offered several flights from the airport.[13] Changes to security regulations following the September 11 attacks forced SAA to eliminate the stop.[14]
During the 2005 hurricane season, FLL was affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma. Katrina struck land in late August as a Category 1 and made landfall on Keating Beach just two miles from the airport (near the border of Broward and Miami–Dade counties) with 80 mph (130 km/h) winds but caused only minor damage; however, the airport was closed for about a 48-hour period. However, when Hurricane Wilma made landfall in October roof damage was reported along with broken windows, damaged jetways, and destroyed canopies. The airport was closed for a period of five days. Hurricane Wilma was a Category 2 when its center passed to the west of FLL. In February 2007, the airport started fees to all users, including private aircraft. FLL is one of the few airports to administer fees to private pilots. A minimum charge of $10 is assessed on landing private aircraft.
In May 2008, Zoom Airlines launched a seasonal link to London's Gatwick Airport via Bermuda. The airline shut down three months later.[15][16] In May 2010, Condor began a seasonal flight to Frankfurt.[15][17]Norwegian Air Shuttle introduced routes to Copenhagen and Oslo in November 2013 and to Stockholm the following month.[18][19] The company expanded its operations in Fort Lauderdale over the next few years. By 2017, Norwegian had established a crew base at the airport and added flights to three more cities in Europe, as well as seasonal service to two Caribbean destinations.[20]
2015–present
Emirates launched a flight to Dubai using a Boeing 777-200LR in December 2016. While major airlines tended to prefer flying into Miami, Emirates chose Fort Lauderdale as its gateway to South Florida because of its codeshare agreement with JetBlue and the airport's central location in the region.[21][22][23] On January 6, 2017, a lone gunman opened fire inside Terminal 2 with a semi-automatic handgun, killing five people. The shooter was arrested by a BSO deputy within 85 seconds of when he began shooting.[24] He was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences plus 120 years in prison.[25][26][27] In 2018, NORAD announced that it would be stationing fighter jets at the airport during President Donald Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago.[28] By 2018, the airport had started going through an extensive renovation and expansion project worth approximately $3 billion, adding gates, new parking, stores, and shops. The master plan calls for the construction of an Intermodal center, a people mover, a hotel, an increase in the number of gates from 62 to 95, and widening of the terminal access road.[29]
Emirates ended service to Fort Lauderdale in 2020. In 2021, it began flying to Miami instead, which had more cargo traffic and connecting flights to other countries.[30] In the same year, Norwegian decided to discontinue all of its flights to the United States, leaving the airport without transatlantic service. Norse Atlantic Airways launched a direct flight to Oslo in June 2022.[31] In April 2023, historic flooding in the area caused severe disruptions at the airport, culminating in a complete closure as rainwater flooded parts of the tarmac and airport property.[32] Norse Atlantic relocated to Miami in pursuit of more passengers and cargo in September 2023. The airline was also flying to London-Gatwick and had a crew base in Fort Lauderdale at the time.[33] In the same month, El Al commenced a seasonal route to Tel Aviv for the Jewish High Holidays. It transitioned to year-round service in April 2024 despite the ongoing Israel–Hamas war and an Iranian attack on Israel two days prior. After Miami, Fort Lauderdale was El Al's second destination in South Florida, which has a large Jewish population.[34][35] In October 2023, one month following El Al's commencement of service at the airport, officials broke ground on FLL's new Terminal 5, which is expected to be completed by mid-2026.[36][37][38][39]
In 2024, Southwest shifted its international flights from Fort Lauderdale to its hub in Orlando.[40][41]
Future
Several airport projects are planned or underway as of 2024, to be completed by the end of the decade, in line with the airport's master plan.[29] These include the construction of airside terminal connections between Terminals 1, 2, and 3, the intermodal center, Terminal 5, and an automated people mover connecting the terminals, garages, and the intermodal center.[29][42][43][44] Additionally, the Palm Garage is to be reconstructed, with an on-site hotel & conference center built adjacent to the reconstructed garage, while Terminal 3 will be rebuilt & expanded and a station on the proposed Broward Commuter Rail is established.[29][43][45][46]
10R/28L: 8,000 x 150 ft (2,438 x 46 m), concrete (enlarged September 18, 2014)[50]
The former crosswind runway, 13/31, was closed and decommissioned in 2013 as part of the Airport Expansion Program, which also extended runway 10R/28L to its current length.[50][51][52]
In December 2022, there were 100 aircraft based at this airport: 11 single-engine, 7 multi-engine, 80 jet, and 2 helicopter.[1]
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport operates four terminals with 66 gates, with another terminal under construction as of 2024. Terminal 1 opened in stages between 2001 and 2003 and was designed by Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum[56] and Cartaya Associates.[57] The other three terminals were constructed in 1986 and designed by Reynolds, Smith & Hills as part of a $263 million construction project.[58] Terminal 4 was inaugurated by a Concorde visit in 1983. Since 2005, T4 has been undergoing renovations along with a major expansion designed by PGAL/Zyscovich joint venture. The airport announced in late 2013 that T1 would undergo a $300 million makeover, and soon after construction began in late 2015 and was completed in June 2017.[59] As of 2024, Terminal 5 is under construction and is expected to be completed by 2026.[37][38]
Terminal 1, previously known as the Yellow Terminal, contains Concourses A, B & C and 23 gates. Concourse A mainly serves international travelers. United Airlines operates a United Club in Concourse C, which originally opened with the new Terminal in May 2001 as a Continental Airlines Presidents Club before United merged with Continental Airlines. This terminal is also the most frequently used of the four by Southwest Airlines; nearly all Southwest flights operate out of Concourse B.
Terminal 2, previously known as the Red Terminal, contains Concourse D and 9 gates. Air Canada and Delta Air Lines operate at Terminal 2. Due to construction in Terminal 1, WestJet currently operates from Terminal 2 as well. Delta Air Lines operates a Sky Club here. This terminal is currently undergoing a $100 million modernization, including the expansion of the check-in area, renovations to security screening facilities, new ceilings, flooring, and the inclusion of more concessions, along with the modernization of the Sky Club.[60]
Terminal 3, previously known as the Purple Terminal, contains Concourses E & F with 20 gates, functioning as the JetBlue operating base.[61] It is also connected to Terminal 4 via a newly built walkway.
Terminal 4, previously known as the Green Terminal, contains Concourse G with 14 gates, and functions as the Spirit operating base. Concourse H, which closed in December 2017 and has since been demolished, included 10 gates. The former Concourse H was reconfigured and redesigned by the architectural firms of PGAL/Zyscovich joint venture. The new three-story facility, which was renamed Concourse G, has 14 new gates, 11 of which are international/domestic capable, and one arrival area for bussing operations. New concessions, seatings, and approximately 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) of administrative offices for the Aviation Department are being designed on the upper levels of the facility. An expanded U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility will also be included in the new Eastern Expansion construction.
Terminal 5 - On October 9, 2023, Broward County officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the airport's new Terminal 5 (T5).[37][38] The $404 million, 230,000-square-foot facility will feature five new domestic gates, check-in and baggage areas, security screening, and a variety of retail and food services. T5 will connect to T4 and the Cypress parking garage through pedestrian bridges. The terminal is set for completion by mid-2026.[37][38]
Ride-sharing companies can also be used to and from the airport in designated pickup and drop-off places found between Terminals 1 & 2 and Terminals 3 & 4.[62][63]
The airport also offers airport parking and operates a consolidated rental car facility which can be accessed directly Terminal 1 and from the other terminals by a free shuttle bus service.[65]
Internationally known artist and sculptor Duane Hanson created an installation for his work Vendor with Walkman at the Departure Level of Terminal 3 at the airport. Hanson, who retired and died in nearby Boca Raton, created a seated middle-aged man wearing a red T-shirt, blue pants, and baseball cap, and listening to a walkman during a break. The installation accessories give additional clues to the narrative of the artwork: toy airplane, various signs, and announcements for the shop, janitorial supplies.[66] The artwork has since been moved to Terminal 1 Arrival Level.
From 1957 through 2023, 805,019,235 passengers (domestic+international, enplaned+deplaned) have passed through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int'l Airport, an annual average of 12,015,212 passengers per year.[123]
Accidents and incidents
On May 18, 1972, an Eastern Air LinesMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 had its landing gear collapse and tail section separate during landing. The aircraft then caught fire but all passengers and crew were able to safely evacuate.[124]
On May 26, 1979, an Inter Island Shipping Inc. Lockheed Ventura, later converted into a Howard 350, crashed when one engine lost power shortly after takeoff during a forced landing, impacting trees near FLL. Both occupants died. Contaminated fluid was found in the carburetor of the engine.[125]
On November 19, 2013, an Air Evac International Learjet 35 crashed shortly after take-off from the airport, impacting the Atlantic Ocean 3 miles northeast of FLL on its way to Cozumel, Mexico, after calling mayday and during an attempt to return to the airport, possibly due to engine failure, leaving four people dead.[127]
On October 29, 2015, Dynamic Airways Flight 405, a Boeing 767-246ER (N251MY) was taxiing to a runway to take off for a flight to Caracas, Venezuela. when its left engine caught fire due to a fuel leak. The crew immediately stopped the airplane and fire crews arrived on the scene. All 101 passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft, and 17 passengers were transported to a hospital. All runways were shut down and air operations suspended at the airport for three hours.[128]
On October 28, 2016, FedEx Express Flight 910, a McDonnell Douglas MD-10-10F suffered a landing gear collapse upon landing. The aircraft subsequently caught fire, which destroyed the left wing and engine. The two crew members on board both survived.[129]
On July 23, 2023, shortly after take off, an Allegiant AirwaysAirbus A320 turned into the path of a Gulfstream private plane. The traffic collision avoidance system alarm on both planes activated. Both planes subsequently took evasive action and averted a collision.[130]
^Satchell, Arlene (December 16, 2016). "Emirates offers flights between US & Dubai: Airline adds Fort Lauderdale gateway". South Florida Sun Sentinel. ProQuest1849138741.
^"Contact UsArchived May 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine." Silver Airways. Retrieved on May 8, 2014. "1100 Lee Wagener Blvd, Suite 201 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315."