Old Panama City Airport Runway: The Legacy Facility That Gave Way to a New Vision
The old Panama City Airport runway represents a chapter in Bay County aviation history that closed when Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN) was decommissioned and replaced by Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), which opened in May 2010. The original airport property, situated closer to the urban core of Panama City near the St. Andrews Bay waterfront, had served the region since the mid-20th century and handled commercial air service for decades before the new airport's location west of Panama City Beach was chosen to accommodate longer runways and modern security infrastructure. The old runway remnants and property became the subject of redevelopment planning.
Bay County's aviation history reflects the broader transformation of the Florida Panhandle, where military and civilian aviation have coexisted since World War II. The transition from the old Panama City facility to ECP was driven in part by the need for a 10,000-foot runway capable of handling the long-haul routes that the region's growing resort and military population demands. Pilots familiar with the original PFN facility remember its approaches over St. Andrews Bay and the tight coordination required near Tyndall Air Force Base's restricted airspace. The legacy runway site now serves as an important reference point for understanding how Panhandle aviation infrastructure has evolved.
Is the old Panama City Airport runway still active?
The old Panama City Airport is no longer an active aviation facility. The property was decommissioned as a commercial airport when Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) opened in 2010. The runway may exist as a physical remnant but is not listed as an active aviation facility.
What replaced the old Panama City Airport?
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), located west of Panama City Beach in the West Bay area, replaced the old facility. ECP features a 10,000-foot runway and modern terminal infrastructure designed for commercial airline operations.
Where was the original Panama City Airport located?
The original Panama City Airport was located near the St. Andrews Bay area, closer to the city center of Panama City. Its proximity to water and developed urban areas limited runway expansion potential, which was a key factor in the decision to build ECP on a greenfield site.
Old Panama City Airport Runway Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Panama, Florida.
| Name | Old Panama City Airport Runway |
| Address | 3173 Airport Road, Panama FL 32405 Map |
| Phone | (850) 215-3077 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Old Panama City Airport Runway
About the Old Panama City Airport Runway in Panama City, Florida — A Historical Aviation Site
Panama City's original airport served Bay County through most of the post-war aviation era, handling both regional commercial flights and general aviation. The site's history intersects with the broader story of Northwest Florida's development as both a military aviation stronghold and a civilian travel destination. Tyndall Air Force Base, located a short distance to the southeast, has long shaped the airspace around Panama City, and the proximity of military restricted areas influenced route planning and approach procedures at the old commercial facility for decades.
The decommissioning of the old airport and the construction of ECP represents one of the more significant aviation infrastructure transitions in Florida's recent history. Bay County voters and the FAA invested in ECP as a long-term facility designed to support both the Emerald Coast's tourism economy and the substantial military presence at Tyndall AFB and the Naval Support Activity Panama City. For aviation historians and planners, the old runway site is a tangible reminder of how community growth and military coordination reshape the geography of Florida's aviation network.