View source for Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport

{{short description|Airport in Florida, United States}}
{{distinguish|Destin Executive Airport|Fort Walton Beach Airport}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport
| nativename          = [[Eglin Air Force Base]]
| image               = Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.jpg
| image-width         = 250
| image2              = Eglinafb-15feb1999.jpg
| caption2            = [[USGS]] 1999 [[orthophoto]]
| IATA                = VPS
| ICAO                = KVPS
| FAA                 = VPS
| type                = [[Joint-use airport|Public / Military joint-use]]
| owner-oper          = [[United States Air Force]]
| city-served         = [[Destin, Florida|Destin]]-[[Fort Walton Beach, Florida|Fort Walton Beach]], [[Florida]], U.S.
| location            = Within [[Eglin Air Force Base]], adjacent to [[Valparaiso, Florida|Valparaiso]], [[Florida]], U.S.
| hub                 = 
| operating_base      = [[Allegiant Air]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20180214/allegiant-vps-announce-new-base-new-routes-new-jobs|title=Allegiant, VPS announce new base, new routes, new jobs|publisher=Northwest Florida Daily News|agency=Gannett Co., Inc.|author=Tony Judnich|date=2018-02-14}}</ref>
| elevation-f         = 87
| elevation-m         = 27
| website             = {{URL|www.flyvps.com|www.FlyVPS.com}}
| coordinates         = {{coord|30|29|00|N|086|31|31|W|region:US-FL_scale:40000|display=inline,title}}
| image_map           = VPS Airport Diagram.pdf
| image_mapsize       = 175
| image_map_caption   = FAA airport diagram
| mapframe            = yes
| r1-number           = 12/30
| r1-length-f         = 12,004
| r1-length-m         = 3,659
| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| r2-number           = 02/20
| r2-length-f         = 10,012
| r2-length-m         = 3,052
| r2-surface          = Asphalt
| stat-year           = 2024
| stat1-header        = Passengers
| stat1-data          = 2,377,831
| stat2-header        = Aircraft operations 
| stat2-data          = 21,332 
| stat3-header        = Based aircraft 
| stat3-data          = 2 (2023) 
| footnotes           = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=VPS|use=PR|own=MA|site=03534.*A}}, effective June 12, 2025.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://flyvps.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Airline-Monthly-Reporting-December-2024.pdf|title=VPS Airport Passenger and Operations Data for 2024|website=flyvps.com|access-date=February 1, 2025}}</ref>
}}

'''Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport''' {{airport codes|VPS|KVPS|VPS}} is an airport located within '''[[Eglin Air Force Base]]''', adjacent to the city of [[Valparaiso, Florida|Valparaiso]] and near the cities of [[Destin, Florida|Destin]] and [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida|Fort Walton Beach]], in [[Okaloosa County, Florida]], United States. The airport was previously named '''Northwest Florida Regional Airport''' until February 17, 2015, and '''Okaloosa Regional Airport''' until September 2008.

The airport is just under 16 miles away from Destin and takes approximately 25 minutes to get to Destin.<ref name="destinflorida.com">{{Cite web|url=https://destinflorida.com/journal/which-airport-do-i-use-when-flying-to-destin|title=Airports to use when flying to Destin, Florida &#124; Destin Florida|website=destinflorida.com}}</ref> Only commercial air traffic is allowed. Non-commercial operations by general aviation and business aircraft must use nearby [[Destin Executive Airport]].

==History==
'''In 1957''', The Okaloosa County Air Terminal opened on Eglin Air Force Base in building 89 with 3 personnel (Airport Manager, Security and Admin Support). [[Southern Airways]] was the only passenger airline, with [[Douglas DC-3]]s direct to Atlanta via several stops.<ref>timetableimages.com January 7, 1958 Southern timetable</ref>  Passengers entered the base through the East Gate near [[Valparaiso, Florida|Valparaiso]], thus the airport code of VPS.  Southern would later upgrade their service into the airport with 40-passenger [[Martin 404]] propliners before initiating the first scheduled passenger jet flights at VPS.

In 1967, [[Southern Airways]] introduced [[Douglas DC-9-10]] jetliner service into VPS thus becoming the first airline to operate jets into the airport.

According to the September 3, 1968 Southern Airways system timetable, the airline was operating daily nonstop [[DC-9-10]] jet service to Atlanta and New Orleans as well as direct, no change of plane DC-9 jet flights twice a day to [[New York City]] [[LaGuardia Airport]] and [[Washington D.C.]] [[Dulles Airport]] via intermediate stops in Dothan, AL and Columbus, GA.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/|title=Airline Timetable Images|website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref>

The new [[James E. Plew]] Terminal Building of the Okaloosa Air Terminal, on [[Florida State Road 85|State Road 85]], opened in mid-February 1975, with dedication on 22 February. Representative [[Bob Sikes]] and [[Southern Airways]] President [[Frank Hulse]] were some of the speakers.<ref>Fort Walton Beach, Florida, "Terminal Dedication Saturday", ''Playground Daily News'', Friday 21 February 1975, Volume 30, Number 13, page 1A.</ref> The 32,000 sq ft (3,000 m2) facility cost $1.7 million. Federal grants totaled $472,000, state $80,000, Okaloosa County bond sale $1.1 million, and Southern Airways $190,000. First year enplaned passengers totaled 97,000 with [[Southern Airways]] as the sole airline serving VPS with 12 departing flights daily.

In 1977, South Central Air Transport (SCAT), a commuter air carrier, was serving the airport with flights to New Orleans, LA, Mobile, AL, Montgomery, AL and Panama City, FL flown with [[Handley Page Jetstream]] propjets.<ref name="auto3"/>

On July 1, 1979 [[Southern Airways]] merged with [[North Central Airlines]] to form [[Republic Airlines]].  In July 1979, Republic flew [[Douglas DC-9-10]] and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] jets nonstop from VPS to Atlanta, GA; Dothan, AL; Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Orlando, FL and Tallahassee, FL. Republic also operated direct [[DC-9]] jet service to Baton Rouge, LA; Chicago, IL ([[O'Hare Airport]]), Fort Lauderdale, FL; Memphis, TN; Monroe, LA; New York ([[LaGuardia Airport]]) and Washington D.C. ([[Dulles Airport]]).<ref>departedflights.com, July 1, 1979 Republic timetable</ref>  Prior to the merger Southern flew all of these nonstop and direct DC-9 routes as well and also operated direct DC-9 jet service to Birmingham, AL; Miami, FL and Nashville, TN.<ref>departedflights.com, July 1, 1978 Southern timetable</ref>

At the beginning of the 1980s, only Republic Airlines was operating nonstop service between VPS and Atlanta.  Republic was operating [[DC-9-10]], [[DC-9-30]] and [[DC-9-50]] jets on the route.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/|title=index|website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref>  As the decade progressed, [[Delta Air Lines]] and [[Eastern Air Lines]] both added nonstop service between the airport and Atlanta via their respective regional airline [[code sharing]] partners, [[Delta Connection]] and Eastern Metro Express, both of which operated turboprop aircraft into VPS.<ref name="auto2"/>  The Delta Connection service was flown by [[Atlantic Southeast Airlines]] (ASA) operating [[de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7]] and [[Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia]] turboprops.  The Eastern Metro Express service was flown by [[Metro Airlines]] operating [[British Aerospace]] [[BAe Jetstream 31]] and [[de Havilland Canada DHC-8]]-100 [[Bombardier Dash 8|Dash 8]] turboprops.  [[Air New Orleans]], a commuter airline, also served VPS during the 1980s with commuter aircraft such as the [[Beechcraft C99]] turboprop and [[Piper Aircraft|Piper]] prop aircraft.  Destinations served by Air New Orleans from VPS included Birmingham, AL; Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Orlando, FL; Panama City, FL; Pensacola, FL and Tampa, FL.<ref name="auto2"/>

On October 1, 1986, [[Northwest Airlines]] completed its merger with [[Republic Airlines]].  Northwest flew only one route from VPS: nonstop to Memphis, a Northwest hub which was also a former Republic and Southern Airways hub. By September 1987 Northwest had four non-stops a day to Memphis with  stretched [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] and [[DC-9-50]]s.<ref>departedflights.com, September 9, 1987 Northwest timetable</ref> Later Northwest would reduce its schedule from VPS to three daily DC-9s nonstop to Memphis.<ref>departedflights.com, April 1995 Official Airline Guide (OAG), North American edition</ref> No other airline flew jets into VPS until Valujet/Airtran appeared in the 1990s.

[[AirTran Airways]] was serving the airport with jet service in 1998. According to the August 1, 1998 AirTran system timetable, two nonstop flights a day were operated to Atlanta with direct, one stop service once a day to [[Washington, D.C.]] [[Dulles Airport]].  AirTran operated [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] jetliners into VPS.<ref name="auto2"/>  However, by the end of 2001, AirTran had ceased all service into the airport after commencing service to Pensacola.<ref name="auto2"/>

The current Northwest Florida Regional Airport opened its doors in November 2004 following an expansion with more parking, a larger aircraft parking apron, a second parallel taxiway, landscaping and a new {{convert|110000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} passenger terminal.

[[Delta Air Lines]] completed its merger with [[Northwest Airlines]] on January 31, 2010.  Delta then scaled back the Northwest hub operation in Memphis, and service between VPS and MEM was discontinued in favor of nonstop flights to Delta's hub in Atlanta.

In 2011, [[Vision Airlines]] began a small scheduled passenger hub operation at VPS with flights to Asheville, NC; Atlanta, GA; Baton Rouge, LA; Columbia, SC; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Fort Myers, FL; Greenville/Spartanburg, SC; Huntsville, AL; Knoxville, TN; Lafayette, LA; Las Vegas, NV; Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; Sanford/Orlando, FL; Savannah, GA; Shreveport, LA; St. Louis, MO; and St. Petersburg, FL.  Vision flew [[Boeing 737]] jetliners and [[Dornier 328]] turboprops.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020530094050/http://www.visionairlines.com/ Press Releases]}}</ref> Vision later ended all flights at the airport and shut down its VPS hub.

Northwest Florida Regional Airport changed its name to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport on a 3–2 vote on February 17, 2015.

In March 2016, [[GLO Airlines]] began less than daily, seasonal service from VPS to Little Rock (LIT) and New Orleans (MSY) using 30-seat [[Saab 340B]] turboprop aircraft. GLO has since ceased all flights and is no longer in business.

A couple months later, [[Allegiant Air]] began scheduled service to VPS from Cincinnati (CVG), Ft Lauderdale (FLL), Oklahoma City (OKC), Knoxville (TYS), Memphis (MEM) and St Louis/Belleville (BLV) flying [[Airbus A319]], [[A320]], and [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80]] mainline jet aircraft.  The Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport became a [[focus city]] for the airline at this time.

In September 2016, [[Contour Airlines]] began flying less than daily, seasonal service from Bowling Green, KY (BWG) to VPS using 30-seat [[British Aerospace]] [[BAe Jetstream 41]] turboprop aircraft. These flights ended in 2018 due to low demand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2018 |title=Local Destin flights won't return |work=Bowling Green Daily News |url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local-destin-flights-wont-return/article_de72cfa0-4c4c-5c5c-8b2f-84aab34b9576.html}}</ref>

[[Allegiant Air]] announced a major expansion at VPS in January 2017 with a new base of operations to be located on the airport with a total of eighteen (18) domestic destinations to be served nonstop on seasonal basis with mainline jet aircraft by June 2017 with most of the planned new service to begin in May 2017.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://g4meta.allegiantair.com/|title=Best Travel Deals, Cheap Flights, Hotel Discounts, Car Rentals and more|website=Allegiant Air}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[Silver Airways]] began daily service to Orlando, FL (MCO) from VPS in May 2019 using a 34-seat [[Saab 340]] turboprop aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silverairways.com/about-silver/press-room/article/2019/02/11/silver-airways-outlines-plans-to-start-daily-nonstop-service-between-orlando-international-airport-and-destin-fort-walton-beach-airport-starting-may-17-2019?stop_mobi=no|title=Article|website=www.silverairways.com|access-date=2019-07-23}}</ref> Silver stopped serving VPS in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

[[Southwest Airlines]] began service to VPS with flights to Dallas-Love (DAL), Nashville (BNA), Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Chicago/Midway (MDW) in May 2021.

[[United Airlines]] announced in March 2022 that they would cease all flights into VPS, citing long-term unsustainability.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United Airlines ending services to Destin-Fort Walton Beach |work=WKRG News 5 |date=13 January 2022 |url=https://www.wkrg.com/northwest-florida/okaloosa-county/united-airlines-ending-services-to-destin-fort-walton-beach/}}</ref> Later that year, Concourse C expansion opens for exclusive use by Allegiant Air, flying to 35 destinations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Allegiant Air, Okaloosa County celebrate new concourse at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport |url=https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/20/destin-fort-walton-beach-florida-airport-new-concourse-serve-allegiant-air/10425205002/}}</ref>

In February 2024, [[Avelo Airlines]] announces service to Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) in Connecticut, starting on May 17, 2024.

==Facilities==
[[File:The "B" Gates at Okaloosa Regional Airport.jpg|thumb|right|Gates at VPS]]
Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport and Eglin AFB covers 6,500 acres (2,630 ha) and share two [[runway]]s: 12/30 is {{cvt|12,004 x 300|ft}} [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]]/[[concrete]] and 02/20 is {{cvt|10,012 x 300|ft}} asphalt.<ref name=FAA /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/VPS/Eglin-AFB-Destin-Ft-Walton-Beach-Airport|title=VPS airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com}} FAA data effective June 12, 2025.</ref>

===Terminal===
The airport has a {{cvt|116,000|sqft}} passenger terminal with five second-level gates with passenger jet ways and three ground-level commuter gates with passenger jet ways.

The two-level terminal opened in November 2004. The old terminal building was demolished soon after. The terminal has areas for ticketing and baggage claim and upper and lower courses with gates. The first level has Gates A1, A2, and A3 and waiting areas and a concession area. The second-level concourse has Gates B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6. B3 is rarely used due to a lack of flights during the slow season. B5 is rarely used due to a lack of a jetway. Passengers have to descend a narrow stairwell and isn't very conducive to safe and speedy boarding of the aircraft. The second-level concourse also has a restaurant and concession areas. The terminal was designed to allow future expansion. Concourse C, completed in 2022 for Allegiant Air's exclusive use, is located to the west of the main terminal. The $11.4 million-dollar, 26,000 square foot expansion includes 5 new ground-level gates, along with multiple food and beverage options.<ref name=":0" /> However, passengers will still have to check in, as well as collect baggage, at the main terminal.

===Ground transportation===
Access to the terminal is off of State Road 85. Parking facilities are to the left, the terminal or loop is straight ahead and rental car return is to the right. The airport loop road has two pass-through lanes on the left and three arrival-departure lanes in front of the terminal. The loop road is a two-lane asphalt roadway about ¾ mile long. Short-term and long-term parking facilities are available. The parking facilities were improved in the early 2000s (decade) as part of the new terminal expansion. These were designed with the Transportation Security Administration's "300-foot rule" in mind, and satisfy the {{convert|300|ft|adj=on}} distance between parked vehicles and the terminal building.

==Airlines and destinations==
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport or the airline itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport destination list | 3rdcoltitle = Refs | 3rdcolunsortable=yes
<!-- -->
| [[Allegiant Air]] | [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport|Belleville/St. Louis]], [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati]], [[Columbia Regional Airport|Columbia (MO)]] (begins June 5, 2026),<ref name="Allegiant2026"/<ref>{{cite news |title=Allegiant Adds 30 New Nonstop Routes, Entering Four New Markets |url=https://fox40.com/business/press-releases/cision/20251118LA27048/allegiant-adds-30-new-nonstop-routes-entering-four-new-markets/ |access-date=18 November 2025 |agency=FOX 40 |date=18 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref> [[Northwest Arkansas National Airport|Fayetteville/Bentonville]], [[Bishop International Airport|Flint]],<ref name=" AllegiantWinter24">{{cite web|date=July 16, 2024 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allegiant-announces-eight-new-routes-with-one-way-fares-as-low-as-39-302197466.html |title=Allegiant Announces Eight New Routes with One-Way Fares as Low as $39*|website=PRNewsWire}}</ref> [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]],<ref name="ir.allegiantair.com">{{Cite web|url=https://ir.allegiantair.com/news-releases/news-release-details/allegiant-announces-major-service-expansion-22-new-nonstop|title = Allegiant Announces Major Service Expansion with 22 New Nonstop Routes &#124; Allegiant Travel Company}}</ref> [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]], [[Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]]<ref name="g425">{{cite web |title=Allegiant Air 1H25 Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241126-g41h25 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=26 November 2024}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Akron–Canton Airport|Akron/Canton]],<ref name="g425"/> [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]], [[North Central West Virginia Airport|Clarksburg]], [[Rickenbacker International Airport|Columbus–Rickenbacker]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]] (begins May 21, 2026),<ref>{{cite news |title=Allegiant Adds 30 New Nonstop Routes, Entering Four New Markets |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allegiant-adds-30-new-nonstop-routes-entering-four-new-markets-302617991.html |access-date=19 November 2025 |agency=PR News Wire |date=18 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref> [[Des Moines International Airport|Des Moines]], [[Evansville Regional Airport|Evansville]], [[Gerald R. Ford International Airport|Grand Rapids]], [[Tri-State Airport|Huntington]], [[Indianapolis International Airport|Indianapolis]], [[Kansas City International Airport|Kansas City]], [[McGhee Tyson Airport|Knoxville]], [[Clinton National Airport|Little Rock]], [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport|Louisville]], [[Will Rogers World Airport|Oklahoma City]], [[Eppley Airfield|Omaha]], [[General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport|Peoria]], [[Pittsburgh International Airport|Pittsburgh]], [[Springfield–Branson National Airport|Springfield/Branson]], [[Tulsa International Airport|Tulsa]], [[Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport|Wichita]]| <ref>{{cite web|title=Allegiant Interactive Route Map|url=https://www.allegiantair.com/interactive-routemap|access-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717045737/https://www.allegiantair.com/interactive-routemap|archive-date=July 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[American Airlines]]}} | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]] <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]]| <ref name="AmericanRoutes">{{cite web|title=Flight schedules and notifications|url=https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010611/https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]] (begins December 19, 2025)<ref>{{cite web|title=AA RELEASE-2025 final-850|url=https://myokaloosa.com/sites/default/files/Users/piouser/AA%20RELEASE-2025%20final-850.pdf}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]  | <ref name="AmericanRoutes"/>
<!-- -->
| [[Avelo Airlines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Tweed New Haven Airport|New Haven]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/avelo-new-haven-new-destinations-tweed-18648662.php|title=Avelo announces 4 new destinations from New Haven, including Atlanta|website=New Haven Register|date=February 6, 2024|access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref>| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aveloair.com/destinations/|title=Destinations|website=Avelo Airlines|access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]]<br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.delta.com/delta-boosts-summer-2025-schedule-return-seven-us-and-latin-leisure-routes |title=Delta boosts Summer 2025 schedule with return of seven U.S. And Latin leisure routes &#124; Delta News Hub |date=23 December 2024 }}</ref>  | <ref name="DeltaRoutes">{{cite web|title=FLIGHT SCHEDULES|url=https://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621123636/http://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action|archive-date=June 21, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[Delta Connection]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]] (begins June 16, 2026)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-airport/delta-to-launch-three-seasonal-routes-from-austin-to-leisure-destinations-in-june/|title=Delta to launch three seasonal routes from Austin to ‘leisure destinations’ in June|publisher=[[KXAN]]}}</ref> | <ref name="DeltaRoutes" />
<!-- -->
| [[JetBlue]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]] (both begin March 5, 2026)<ref name="B6VPS">{{cite web|url= https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/local/2025/11/06/destin-fort-walton-beach-airport-gets-big-boost-from-jetblue/87122735007/|title= JetBlue to fly nonstop between Destin-Fort Walton Beach and Boston Logan and New York JFK|website=NWF Daily News|date=November 7, 2025|access-date=November 7, 2025}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web |title=JetBlue |url=https://www.jetblue.com/help/flight-schedules |website=www.jetblue.com |access-date=21 October 2025}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Southwest Airlines]]}} | [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]], [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/results.html?departureDate=2022-06-05&destinationAirportCode=VPS&originationAirportCode=HOU&scheduleViewType=weekly&timeOfDay=ALL_DAY | title=Southwest Airlines - Check Flight Schedules }}</ref> [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]] <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|Baltimore]], [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]], [[Kansas City International Airport|Kansas City]], [[Pittsburgh International Airport|Pittsburgh]] (begins June 6, 2026),<ref>[https://blueskypit.com/southwest-adds-flights-to-floridas-destin-fort-walton-beach-in-summer-2026/ Southwest Adds Flights to Florida’s Destin-Fort Walton Beach in Summer 2026]</ref> [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport|St. Louis]]| <ref name="SouthwestRoutes">{{cite web|title=Check Flight Schedules|url=https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202053931/https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Sun Country Airlines]]}} | '''Seasonal:''' [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]]|
<!-- -->
}}

==Statistics==
===Top destinations===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" width= align=
|+ '''Busiest domestic routes<br />(September 2024 – August 2025)'''<ref name="BTS" />
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta, GA]]
| 255,850
| Delta
|-
| 2
| [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth, TX]]
| 141,050
| American
|-
| 3
| [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte, NC]]
| 113,660
| American
|-
| 4
| [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville, TN]]
| 88,490
| Allegiant, Southwest
|-
| 5
| [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St Paul, MN]]
| 69,090
| Allegiant, Delta, Sun Country
|-
| 6
| [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati, OH]]
| 61,840
| Allegiant
|-
| 7
| [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love, TX]]
| 54,210
| Southwest
|-
| 8
| [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport|St. Louis–Belleville, IL]]
| 51,750
| Allegiant
|-
| 9
| [[Northwest Arkansas National Airport|Fayetteville/Bentonville, AR]]
| 27,640
| Allegiant
|-
| 10
| [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|Baltimore, MD]]
| 26,370
| Allegiant, Southwest
|}

===Airline market share===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Largest Airlines at VPS <br/> (September 2024 – August 2025)'''<ref name="BTS">{{Cite web |title=OST_R {{!}} BTS {{!}} Transtats |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=icf&Nv42146_anzr=iny2n4nv51,%20SY:%20Rtyv0%20NSO%20Qr56v0%20S146%20jny610%20Ornpu&pn44vr4=SNPgf |access-date=November 19, 2025 |website=[[Bureau of Transportation Statistics]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Transportation]]}}</ref>
!Rank
!Carrier
!Passengers
!Market
Share
|-
|1
|[[Allegiant Air|Allegiant]]
|751,000
|30.97%
|-
|2
|[[Delta Air Lines|Delta]]
|583,000
|24.02%
|-
|3
|[[Southwest Airlines|Southwest]]
|431,000
|17.78%
|-
|4
|[[American Airlines|American]]
|423,000
|17.44%
|-
|5
|[[PSA Airlines]]
|86,520
|3.57%
|-
|
|Others
|151,000
|6.22%
|}

===Annual traffic===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ VPS Airport Annual Traffic 2017–Present<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flyvps.com/statistics|title=VSP Airport Airline Activity Reports 2017-Present|website=flyvps.com|accessdate= January 21, 2025}}</ref>
!Year
!Passengers
!% Change
|-
|2017||1,175,894||—
|-
|2018||1,413,843||{{increase}}{{0}}20.24%
|-
|2019||1,673,226||{{increase}}{{0}}18.35%
|-
|2020||948,292||{{decrease}}{{0}}43.33%
|-
|2021||1,998,587||{{increase}}{{0}}110.76%
|-
|2022||2,006,297||{{increase}}{{0}}0.39%
|-
|2023||2,279,847||{{increase}}{{0}}13.63%
|-
|2024||'''2,377,831'''||{{increase}}{{0}}4.30%
|}

==Incidents at or near VPS==
*On November 13, 1969, a [[USAF]] [[North American Sabreliner]] on final approach crashed into the water of Apalachicola Bay in foggy weather 4&nbsp;km from Valparaiso-Eglin AFB (VPS). The aircraft was fitted with radiological test equipment for Project "[[Have Doughnut]]". Both occupants survived, but the aircraft was destroyed and written off.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/331316|title=Accident description for 59-2871 at Aviation Safety Network|website=asn.flightsafety.org|accessdate= September 6, 2024}}</ref>
*On January 1, 1994, a [[Piper PA-46|Piper PA-46 Malibu]] crashed while on approach to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. It was found that the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed, leading to an inadvertent stall with inadequate altitude for recovery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Piper PA-46-310P crash in Florida (N243KW) {{!}} PlaneCrashMap.com |url=https://planecrashmap.com/plane/fl/N243KW/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=planecrashmap.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Accident Piper PA-46-310P Malibu N243KW, Saturday 1 January 1994 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/39541 |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Flight Safety Foundation}}</ref>
*On March 2, 2003, a [[Mooney M20|Mooney M20M]] experienced an in-flight fire shortly after takeoff from the Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport. The pilot successfully returned to the airport despite thick black smoke in the cockpit. The probable cause of the mishap was found to be an inadequate annual/100-hour inspection of the engine by the mechanic for his failure to properly secure the tailpipe assembly to the turbocharger resulting in separation of the tailpipe and subsequent in-flight fire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mooney M20M crash in Florida (N101PB) {{!}} PlaneCrashMap.com |url=https://planecrashmap.com/plane/fl/N101PB/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=planecrashmap.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Accident Mooney M20M N101PB, Sunday 2 March 2003 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/296161 |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Flight Safety Foundation}}</ref>
*On October 3, 2005, a [[Piper PA-46|Piper PA-46 Malibu Mirage]] [[Runway excursion|veered off the runway]] during the landing roll at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the inadequate design of the engine mount which led to cracking of the mount resulting in a loss of directional control and collapse of the nose landing gear. A contributing factor was the failure of maintenance personnel to comply with a service bulletin to inspect the engine mount for cracks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Accident Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage N9199P, Monday 3 October 2005 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/292978 |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Flight Safety Foundation}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in Florida]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport}}
* [http://www.flyvps.com/ Destin - Fort Walton Beach Airport], official site
* [https://www.eglin.af.mil/ Eglin Air Force Base], official site
* [http://www.SurfsideTaxi.com/ Northwest Florida Regional Airport Shuttle Service.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106000224/http://www.surfsidetaxi.com/ |date=2011-11-06 }}, Ground Transportation to VPS
* {{FAA-diagram|00436}}
* {{FAA-procedures|VPS}}
{{US-airport-ga|VPS}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180307051234/http://nwflairportshuttle.com/ Northwest Florida Regional Airport Shuttle Service.], Ground Transportation Shuttles

{{Florida airports}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport}}
[[Category:Airports in Florida]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:1957 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Aviation in Florida]]