ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — Treasure Coast International Airport in Fort Pierce has just received its Part 139 airport certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, which means the airport is now certified to accommodate commercial airline services.
St. Lucie County announced the milestone in a news release on Friday and told WPTV's Kate Hussey it's a huge landmark in the airport's history.
"This is something [county commissioners] have been wanting to work on for quite a long time," said County Administrator George Landry.
The airport currently handles private and charter flights, medical transport and has a flight training school.
WPTV has been reporting on the developments leading up to this remarkable breakthrough since 2023.
The county said they began the process to provide commercial air service in April 2023, and that September, Landry told Hussey the county officially submitted its application to the FAA.
That November we reported on the county's expansion and renovation on the airport to accommodate commercial flights and Landry said the County received its official Part 139 certification, Thursday, giving Treasure Coast International Airport the all clear to accommodate commercial flights.
"What this means for the county is we are in a position now to look at multiple airlines and see what would best serve St. Lucie County residents," said Landry.
On the County's FAA application, just one airline is listed: a discount airline called Avelo, which is headquartered in Houston but has hubs all across the northeast.
"Is that a definite, that they’re coming in and operating?" Hussey asked Landry.
"We're still currently in the negotiating process with them, as well as a few others," said Landry.
So why Avelo?
A study by Stacker took U.S. Census data and found New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia are three of the top six states residents are moving from to come to Florida.
According to Avelo's website, one of the airline's eight bases is in the greater Philadelphia area.
"When they first approached us, I think they realized where our demographic, or a lot of our population, goes to," said Landry.
"I love [Avelo]! That's, that's how I go!" said Joanne Wolters.
Wolters moved to the Treasure Coast from Delaware, less than an hour from the Philadelphia airport, and flies Avelo often.
"My children are coming to visit us in Florida, and they're also all flying Avelo," said Wolters.
Transplant from New York, Lauren Vausch, said she flies back to the northeast every three months, and said she'd use the airline often, too.
"I think it would be super convenient," said Vausch.
Martin Kruk, who moved to Port St Lucie from Maryland, said he's flown from Palm Beach International back to the northeast too, and said he'd love a closer airport.
"This would cut your travel time down by about 40 minutes," said Hussey.
"Oh yeah, a lot," replied Kruk.
"So, as we negotiate with them, we hope we can come to terms with them as one of our vendors," said Landry.
Landry said he expects the negotiating process to last about six months, and said we could start seeing commercial service out of Treasure Coast International as early as June.
WPTV reached out to Avelo Airlines.
Communications Manager Courtney Goff released the following statement:
"We’re currently speaking with several airports around Florida, and while we’ve offered our letter of support, we do not have immediate planes to serve Fort Pierce. Once they have the terminal and airport are officially ready for commercial service, we’ll revisit Treasure Coast."
He also said multiple airlines could launch commercial service at the airport, including some of the major airlines further down the road.
Treasure Coast International Airport will now be the second airport between Melbourne and West Palm Beach to offer passenger service.
Vero Beach Regional Airport has seen success with Breeze Airways, which started service there in early 2023.
Treasure Coast International is also the sixth largest airport by area in Florida encompassing 3,844 acres.
Southwest Florida International, Orlando International, Jacksonville International, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, and Northwest Florida Beaches International are the only airports larger.
WPTV's previous coverage on commercial flights at Treasure Coast International Airport:
Region St Lucie County
Commercial flights might soon be option at airport in Fort Pierce
Region St Lucie County
Commercial flights may become reality at Treasure Coast airport
Region St Lucie County
