<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">In the late 1990s, the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District (Airport Authority) started looking for ways to increase the air service in the Panama City area. The old airport had been built in 1932, with scheduled service beginning in 1948. However, it did not have enough room to expand. Proposed ideas included using the current airport property and extending the current short runways into St. Andrews Bay or into residential neighborhoods, relocation of the airport to a new site, or collocation with Tyndall AFB. With strong opposition to extending the runways into an environmentally sensitive bay or into neighborhoods,the airport authority began to search for relocation sites.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The authority received tentative approval to build a new airport in northwestern Bay County in 2001. In 2005&ndash;2007, the authority obtained the needed permits. The relocation of the airport was controversial in Bay County. The county commission chose to proceed with building a new airport and closing down Fannin Field despite a majority of voters in a non-binding 2004 referendum voting against the plan. Some felt that the St. Joe Company, which owned the land the airport would be based on, would derive an unfair benefit at the taxpayers' expense. Suits were filed against the airport on environmental grounds but were not successful in halting its construction. Construction was completed in May 2010, but the planned crosswind runway was not built. This controversy continues as of May 2021.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport's IATA code was originally supposed to be TFB, for "The Florida Beaches". However, this code was already taken by Tifalmin Airport in Papua New Guinea. By going through all available IATA codes, the group deciding the code came across ECP. After jokingly saying it could stand for "Everyone Can Party", the code stuc</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pt-2">Transportation of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>A variety of ground transportation is available at the airport:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li class="blog-li">Seven rental car companies operate at the airport: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.</li>
<li class="blog-li">Taxi, shuttles, and limo services.</li>
<li class="blog-li">Area hotel shuttle services.</li>
</ul>
<p class="fs-6  wow fadeInUp">From Panama City, take State Road 77 north through Lynn Haven and Southport. Turn left onto State Highway 388. Proceed for approximately 8 miles. The airport entrance is on the right.</p>
<p class="fs-6  wow fadeInUp">Proceed for approximately 4 miles. The airport entrance is on the left.From Panama City Beach, take State Road 79 north towards Westby. Turn right onto State Highway 388.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100 " title="History of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport" src="../../main/img/airport/north/1.webp" alt="History of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport"></p>