Approval for Long Florida Runway

The Panama City – Bay County International Airport Authority has approved a 10,000-foot main runway at the new airport in West Bay, subject to obtaining necessary permits and approvals. The Authority previously authorized the design of the runway extension, which takes the runway from 8,400 feet to 10,000 feet, and has approved a thicker runway and centerline lighting. The Airport Authority had approved an 8,400-foot runway with the option to extend it to 10,000 feet, if funding became available. The Florida Legislature, during its 2008 legislative session, awarded the airport an additional $4.5 million in funding to lengthen the runway to 10,000 feet. The change in runway length is not expected to impact the construction schedule.  The Airport Authority currently expects to open the new airport on Memorial Day 2010. The new runway will be the only 10,000 foot commercial runway in the Northwest Florida region. Construction of the $318 million state-of-the-art airport began in January 2008