Key West Airport (EYW) Flights & Flight Status

Key West International Airport (EYW) is a small but mighty airport located in the southernmost city of the contiguous United States with 20 nonstop flights to destinations across Florida, the South, the Eastern seaboard, the Midwest and Texas. Given its lesser size, navigating this airport may seem straightforward. However, there are plenty of things to be aware of – good and bad – before flying in and out of Key West airport.

The best way to get to and from the airport to Key West

Arguably EYW’s best asset is its location. Located directly on the island of Key West, the airport is a ten-minute drive to either Old Town or New Town. Taxis are readily available outside the arrival terminal in the passenger pick-up area, but a dedicated rideshare pick up zone just a few extra steps away, also makes Uber or Lyft easy options. A recent Lyft ride from EYW to my hotel in Old Town cost me less than what I usually pay for a ride from my condo to a local restaurant. Both Lyfts and Ubers were available with minimum wait times.

From hotels in Old Town, most restaurants and points of interest are within walking distance. Hotels in New Town or nearby Stock Island, an island north of Key West but considered part of greater Key West, typically offer free shuttles on the hour or half hour to Old Town. Rideshares are also readily available throughout the region and usually reasonably priced (outside of festival weekends).

Given this, I’d recommend skipping the rental car while in Key West unless planning to see other Florida Keys as day trips. You won’t have to worry about street parking, which can often be hard to find or paying the exorbitant parking fees that some of the hotels in the region charge.

When I want to visit more than just Key West, I’ll first enjoy my days on the island car-free. Then, I’ll return to the airport by Uber to pick up a rental car when it’s time to head north to visit other greats in the island chain.

If you choose to rent a car from the start (or later in your Florida Keys travels), it’s easy to find the rental car centre at EYW. All rental car counters are located directly in the arrival terminal near the luggage carousels. You can’t miss them! It’s best to pre-book your rental car to ensure the company has one on premises to offer you, especially since there are only 152 spaces for rental cars on-site. Cars tend to sell out during festival weekends and sometimes during peak season.

Most major car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz have a presence at EYW. Even when you aren’t arriving on a flight, you will be able to enter the arrival area to pick up your rental car (during operating hours).

Airport amenities and facilities

Key West airport is currently in the process of building a new $100 million passenger concourse, Concourse A, which will see vast improvements to both the departure and arrival areas. The 49,000-square-foot expansion will increase the airport’s footprint almost three-fold from its current 30,000 square feet.

Upgrades will include jet bridges, new baggage carousels, extended TSA lines, more restrooms, a new and improved First Call Beach Bar at baggage claim, a Chili's restaurant, and a grab-and-go restaurant.

Island airport

The first time I visited EYW, I was surprised by its size and tropical style. It truly looks and feels like an airport you’d find on a Caribbean island. It doesn’t have many frills (for now, at least) but it’s functional and a very convenient way of reaching the heart of Key West.

Weathering a storm

One major upgrade to the airport will be the addition of jet bridges, eight of them to be exact. Now all passengers must exit airplanes at EYW on ramps that zigzag down to the tarmac. Unfortunately, none of these ramps are covered so, in the event of rain, there could be a delay in deplaning or a strong chance of getting wet. In addition, passenger loading also requires the ramps, again presenting a possible issue of getting wet while boarding.

The easiest way to deal with this is by packing an umbrella in your carry-on bag when flying in or out of EYW. Alternatively, consider a rain jacket.

Staying satiated

While the new concourse will have multiple food and beverage options, currently there are three – one restaurant in the pre-departure ticketing hall called Conch Flyer, another restaurant in the departure lounge named Last Call Beach Bar, and the small First Call Beach Bar in the arrival area near the luggage carousels.

With fresh mahi sandwiches and homemade red conch chowder, Conch Flyer is a great spot to get your final fix of Key West cuisine. The regional draft beers and cocktails spiked with local Papa Pilar’s Rum aren’t bad either! Conch Flyer also sells Key West T-shirts and tchotchkes.

Despite major carriers having multiple flights daily to and from EYW, including American, Delta, and United, there are no airline-branded airport lounges or entrance fee-based lounges. Unfortunately, the airport expansion plans do not include any lounges (for now, at least). So those who tend to arrive early to airports to linger in a lounge shouldn’t expect to do so here.

Arrival Area

It’s not very hard to get your bearings once landed. After deplaning and walking to the arrival area, there are but two luggage carousels, one large, one small (with a little bar in between the two). There’s also an entire wall with pamphlets on what to do in the Florida Keys (in case you haven’t already planned things out) and another with rental car counters.

Staying Connected

The airport provides complimentary Wi-Fi throughout its facilities. In my travels, I’ve found the signal here to be strong and reliable.

Navigating Security lines at EYW

All departing passengers must pass through the sole security area at EYW, and so I still recommend arriving two hours before your flight. There are four lines, two of which are for passengers with TSA Precheck. Having Precheck is essential for a speedy security experience during peak hours at EYW when several flights depart at once.

I know that it must sound strange to need TSA Precheck at such a small airport. But EYW saw an impressive 450,000 passengers in the first quarter of 2024 alone, and trust me, you’ll want to be in those expedited screening lanes to make your flight without sweating it. Many credit cards offer the application fee of TSA Precheck as a statement credit, but even if paying out of pocket, membership is valid for 5 years and it’s a wise, time-saving investment.

Once through security, the departure lounge can get congested. There are several seating areas with plugs for charging electronics, but they get taken quickly during the busiest hours and some passengers may find themselves camping out on the floor or pacing, waiting to board. Instead of doing that, I suggest a final ‘treat yourself’ moment with a drink and getting a sandwich in Last Call Beach Bar.

Flying with a pet

EYW has dedicated pet relief areas in both the arrival and departure areas, the former near the passenger pick-up area (where waste bags and trash receptacles can be found) and the latter near the restrooms downstairs.

Parking

For those getting picked up or dropped off, short term parking is offered free of charge for one hour in a small, uncovered lot next to the rideshare pickup area. For those wanting to leave the car for extended periods of time, there are some150 long-term parking spaces in a covered lot across from the passenger concourse.

Things to do if your flight gets delayed

In the event you arrive at the airport, drop your bags and find out your flight is delayed, don’t fret (And don’t go through security.) There are a few things to keep you occupied at the airport’s doorstep – literally!

In front of the airport lies Fort East Martello Museum & Gardens. Housed within an iconic Civil war-era military structure listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the museum features displays and artifacts pertaining to the settling of Key West and the rise of its singular culture.

Moreover, the ocean is just across the street from the airport – even visible outside the doors of the departure terminal. Consider heading across the street and south for one last amble along the shoreline before flying home.

Alternative airports

The closest major airport to EYW is Miami International Airport (MIA). If you are planning a trip through all the Florida Keys, it may make more sense to fly in and out of Miami. From Miami airport, it’s only one hour to reach Key Largo in the Upper Keys by car and you can make a quick detour to Everglades National Park along the way. The distance between Key Largo and Key West is about 100 miles but there are so many places to stop along the way in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys for a memorable road trip.