Southwest had previously requested access to their area by March 21, and Curtis said airport officials were trying to accommodate the company. “We are swiftly working through those issues,” he said.
Despite the recent rain, Curtis said airport officials still believe a crucial Jan. 18 deadline would be met for construction on a 1,600-foot concrete extension to the airport’s runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration has scheduled a formal test flight for Jan. 18, needed so the new $318 million Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport can hold its grand opening May 18.
Curtis said the 1,600-foot runway extension, which will stretch the new airport’s runway to 10,000 feet, will not have to be completely finished by the Jan. 18 test flight. The taxiway connections can come later, for instance, he said.
Southwest, the nation’s largest domestic carrier, announced in October that the company would begin operations at the new airport with eight daily nonstop flights to four cities.
Company officials recently said flights and schedules were being coordinated so cities could be announced and tickets go on sale by either the end of the year or the first of January.
