Gulf Shores Flights Could Begin By March

GULF SHORES, Ala. — The Gulf Shores Airport Authority recently announced Alabama’s beaches will have an “interim” airport available for commercial flights by March 1, 2023, AL.com reported. Scott Fuller, director of the Gulf Shores International Airport, Jack Edwards Field, explained, “It’s a wild state of affairs right now, but the biggest growth (for commercial aviation) right now is leisure markets. That’s what they are selling. We’re an ideal market for low-cost carriers, and they have to put them somewhere.” He added that the opening of the field’s new 12,000-ft2 modular terminal (BBN #90) by March 1 may fuel interest in Gulf Shores. Still, ground isn’t to be broken on the terminal until October. Fuller also said two airlines—Sun Country, which provides flights to Minneapolis, and Elite Airways, which offers flights to Nashville—are to operate flights from Gulf Shores and that talks are ongoing with a larger carrier. Announcements are still expected for this summer.