Airport Overview
Key West International Airport (EYW/KEYW) is the southernmost commercial airport in the continental United States, located 2 miles east of downtown Key West on the Atlantic side of the island. Owned and operated by the City of Key West, it serves as the primary aviation gateway to the Lower Keys for both airline and private traffic, handling well over a million passengers a year through a compact, capacity-constrained footprint.
Runway Capability
EYW has one runway, 9/27, at 4,801 ft of asphalt and just 3 ft of elevation. A 2017–2018 project added pavement and shoulders, but by jet standards the field remains short. It supports light jets and many midsize jets under favorable conditions, while super-midsize and heavy aircraft face significant weight, fuel, and passenger restrictions or cannot operate at all. Every jet trip into EYW warrants a runway-analysis check against temperature and aircraft weight.
Charter Considerations
Key West is a marquee leisure destination, and demand is intensely seasonal. The winter high season (roughly December through April), holiday weekends, Fantasy Fest, and spring break drive sharp spikes in aircraft demand and pricing. Ramp and parking space at EYW is genuinely limited, so booking 7–14 days out and reserving FBO parking is essential during peak windows. Off-peak summer and shoulder seasons offer better availability and empty-leg opportunities.
Safety & Planning
The single 4,801-ft runway leaves little margin for error in hot, humid conditions, and afternoon convective buildups are common in the warm season. Crews should plan conservative landing performance, brief go-around and balked-landing options carefully, and carry a viable weather alternate. The ILS to runway 9 and RNAV approaches support arrivals in marginal weather, but the part-time tower means some operations occur under CTAF procedures.
Customs & International Access
EYW is a designated U.S. port of entry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection on field, making it a practical clearance point for private and charter arrivals from the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Cuba region. CBP processing is coordinated through Signature; advance notice (eAPIS filing and customs arrival times) is required, and hours should be confirmed before departure.
Regional Context
EYW is the only meaningful jet-capable airport in the Lower Keys; the nearest alternatives with longer runways and broader heavy-jet capability are in the Miami area (roughly a 3.5-hour drive up the Overseas Highway, US-1). For passengers on aircraft that exceed EYW's runway limits, operators sometimes position into Miami-area fields and arrange ground transfer, though most light and midsize charters fly directly into Key West for the convenience of an on-island arrival.