Commercial Flights Coming to Gulf Shores

Two airlines plan to begin commercial flights servicing the Gulf Shores International Airport* later this year.

At an April 18 council work session, the Gulf Shores Airport Authority manager announced that commercial airline flights could start taking off from the Gulf Shores International Airport as early as September. Two airlines have signed letters of intent to start this fall and a third airline is also discussing plans to start services.

Mayor Robert Craft said Elite Airlines will be flying 70-passenger jets to Nashville and other cities while Sun Country Airlines will fly Boeing 737 180-passenger jets to Minneapolis and other locations, focusing on serving winter visitors from the Midwest. A third airline has also signed an informal letter of intent to provide services between Gulf Shores and Dallas.

The Airport Authority is working on a long-term agreement for the construction of a passenger terminal at the airport. In the meantime, a temporary, short-term terminal will be built to serve customers when services start later this year. Building a temporary terminal will allow Gulf Shores to get the needed service started as soon as possible while a new permanent facility can be constructed. When the permanent terminal is completed, the facility will include six ticket counters, a TSA area, a holding area, and two gates. The initial terminal will have one security station and will be able to accommodate a second when it is needed.

*Please note, in November 2021, Jack Edwards National Airport was renamed Gulf Shores International Airport.