Airport History

Originally constructed in 1942 to train B-25 and B-29 flight crews for WWII, Gulfport Field was conveyed from the War Department 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 to the Coast beginning in the early 1950's. Through the late 1970's, Southern Airways continued as the primary airline, followed by successors Republic and Northwest into the 1990's.

Beginning in 1953, the Mississippi National Guard developed a training activity which has grown into a high-tech Combat Readiness Training Center, one of four in the Nation. Military traffic has expanded each year, and now more than 20,000 Air Guard and Reserve flight personnel are trained at the base annually. Within 10 minutes, supersonic fighters and in-flight refuelers can simulate a combat environment over the Gulf of Mexico or at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS. Additionally, the Army National Guard established the Aviation Classification Repair Depot operation which repairs several types of combat and transport helicopters for military activities throughout the Southeast and Puerto Rico.

In 1977, the Cities of Gulfport and Biloxi and the County of Harrison joined together to establish the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority, and directed the Airport Authority Commissioners to manage airport facility development. The mission of the Airport Authority is to provide a high quality, safe public airport in order that the Coast citizens and supporting communities receive a sustained and superior return on their investment. During the two following decades, passenger growth increased fourfold and the Airport Authority completed $46 million in capital improvements, 80% of which funds came from Federal Airport Improvement Program funds. Due to casino destination resort growth and a 130% increase in Coast hotel rooms, passenger boardings grew 400% during the 1990’s and the economic impact of the Airport exceeded $600 million annually.

Entering the new millennium, the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is served by five commercial airlines, offering frequent, non-stop jet service to eight major airports connecting to over 2,000 flights throughout the United States and the World. As a result of competition, airfares are very competitive with passenger boardings rising sharply. The general and corporate aviation facilities are also a major contributor to the Airport's aviation service resource. Several aviation businesses grew steadily in the 1990’s and operated award-winning activities providing fuel, maintenance and related aircraft services for all Airport users.

With respect to growth projects, a cargo base began operations in the late 1990’s. The facility accommodates domestic and international air cargo in Foreign Trade Zone No. 92 and is a joint venture of the Airport, Harrison County and the State of Mississippi. Major runway and lighting system improvements were completed in the late 1990’s setting the stage for expanded commercial and military users. Two major Terminal expansions were completed during the same period providing capacity for additional airlines. Having handled 857,000 annual passengers in 2003, with some critical capacity enhancements in a few key markets, the Airport forecasts over 1,000,000 total passenger movements in 2007. The Terminal facility improvements now underway in 2004-2005 will accommodate that new passenger demand. The project will increase the Terminal from 92,000 sq. ft. to 165,000 sq. ft. and cost $51 million. Construction will be completed in early 2006.

In sum, the Airport is rich with aeronautical history and the Airport Authority is actively developing the Airport to meet the current and future needs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. With nearly 1,700 acres of property and two runways, Airport environs height and hazard zoning in place, and 170 acres available for expansion of the passenger terminal complex, Gulfport-Biloxi has the land area, airspace zoning, facilities and instrument approaches in place to sustain double-digit growth for twenty years and beyond for domestic and international airlines, the military and general aviation.