Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport

Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport (IATA: GPT[3], ICAO: KGPT, FAA LID: GPT) is a joint civil–military public-use airport three nautical miles (6 km) northeast of the central business district of Gulfport, a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States.[2] It is owned by the Gulfport–Biloxi Regional Airport Authority[2] and serves the Gulf Coast area.

Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport
USGS 1992 orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGulfport–Biloxi Regional Airport Authority
ServesGulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area
LocationGulfport, Mississippi
Elevation AMSL28 ft / 9 m
Coordinates30°24′26″N 089°04′12″W
Websitewww.FlyGPT.com
Map
GPT
Location of airport in Mississippi / United States
GPT
GPT (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14/32 9,002 2,744 Asphalt/Concrete
18/36 4,935 1,504 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Passengers775,009
Aircraft operations56,198
Based aircraft31
Sources: Airport website[1] and FAA[2]

This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year).[4] As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 487,907 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[5] 411,978 enplanements in 2009, and 325,437 emplacements in 2014.[6] Despite its title, all regularly scheduled commercial passenger flights at the airport are domestic flights only.

History

The airport was originally built in 1942 by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base for Air Corps Flying Training Command. Gulfport Army Airfield opened on July 7, and the Eastern Technical Training Command conducted technical training and basic training unit transferred to Third Air Force on March 31, 1944 with joint use by Technical Training Command for marine training of Emergency Rescue School (3d Air Rescue Group) at Keesler Army Airfield. With the end of the war and the drawdown of the military, Gulfport AAF was placed into reserve status on January 31, 1946.

Gulfport Field was declared excess by the Air Force and conveyed by the War Assets Administration to the City of Gulfport in 1949 for use as a civil airport. The city negotiated airline service contracts with Southern Airways and later National Airlines to provide passenger and cargo service beginning in the early 1950s.

Due to the large expansion of the United States Air Force as a result of the Cold War, a new lease was obtained for military use of the airport and Gulfport Air Force Base was opened as a joint-use civil–military facility. Gulfport AFB was closed as an active Air Force installation and its military facilities were transferred to the Mississippi Air National Guard, with the airport remaining a joint-use airport and Air National Guard base. Although no military aircraft are permanently assigned, the base serves as the home of the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center.

Through the late 1970s, Southern Airways continued as the primary airline, followed by successors Republic Airlines and Northwest Airlines into the 1990s.

Facilities and aircraft

Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport covers an area of 1,400 acres (567 ha) at an elevation of 28 feet (9 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 14/32 is 9,002 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) with an asphalt and concrete surface; 18/36 is 4,935 by 150 feet (1,504 x 46 m) with an asphalt surface.[2]

For the 12-month period ending January 31, 2018, the airport had 48,868 aircraft operations, an average of 134 per day: 52% military, 26% general aviation, 8% air taxi, and 14% scheduled commercial. At that time there were 29 aircraft based at this airport: 23 single-engine, 1 jet, 1 multi-engine, 3 helicopter, and 1 military.[2]

Cargo facility

A 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) cargo facility is at Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport. It includes 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of chiller space, 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of cargo sorting and distribution space, and 6,000 square feet (560 m2) of office space. Airside access from the runway system has been designed with safety and efficiency in mind. The ramp can facilitate two MD11s, DC10s or B747s. The area is also expandable with 120 acres (0.49 km2) reserved for air cargo on airport property.

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Orlando/Sanford
Seasonal: Nashville
American Eagle Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Delta Connection Atlanta
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Austin, Fort Myers, Minneapolis/St. Paul
United Express Houston–Intercontinental

Statistics
Carrier shares for Jun 2017 – May 2018[7]
Carrier   Passengers (arriving and departing)
Delta
257,000(50.01%)
Mesa
86,110(16.73%)
ExpressJet
79,410(15.43%)
PSA
67,600(13.14%)
Allegiant
16,370(3.18%)
Other
7,750(1.51%)
Top domestic destinations (Dec 2017 – Nov 2018)[7]
Rank Airport Passengers Airline
1 Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) 132,160 Delta
2 Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) 48,000 American
3 George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) 40,390 United
4 Charlotte/Douglas International (CLT) 35,920 American
5 Orlando/Sanford (SFB) 11,920 Allegiant
6 Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP) 1,600 Sun Country

Hurricane Katrina

The airport was closed for repairs following severe damage by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. On August 30, 2005, the airfield reopened to first responder flights and on September 8, 2005, it reopened for commercial flights. The airport underwent an extensive renovation that was completed in 2007.

References
  1. Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport, official site
  2. FAA Airport Form 5010 for GPT PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
  3. "IATA Airport Code Search (GPT: Gulfport / Biloxi Regional)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  4. "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010.
  5. "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). CY 2008 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009.
  6. "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). CY 2010 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011.
  7. "Gulfport/Biloxi, MS: Gulfport–Biloxi International (GPT)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of Transportation.
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