Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport

As a popular travel destination, what’s the closest, big city airport to Amelia Island, Florida? Many visitors arriving by air fly into the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX).  It’s about a 35-45 minute drive to Amelia Island, depending on traffic.

However, visitors who fly on private jets and smaller aircraft can fly directly into the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport located on Amelia Island.

One-of-a-Kind Terminal

Recently renovated, the local airport features a unique airplane-shaped terminal to welcome air passengers. Take a tour of Amelia Island and the new Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport facilities by watching the video below. Glimpse some wonderful aerial scenes filmed around Amelia Island, FL. The video showcases top tourism attractions.

The multi-million dollar project to renovate Fernandina’s old terminal building was finished in 2018, the cost around $4.8 million.

Fixed Base Operator

The FBO, Bent Wing Flight Services (formerly named 8 Flags Aviation), changed its name in tribute to the airport’s history. The airport was built during World War II by the U.S. Navy for training on the Corsair F4U airplane.

According to Bent Wing, “the new terminal was designed to represent the F4U Corsair aircraft in honor of the WWII pilots who flew the “Bent Wing Bird” from the U.S. Navy’s Outlying Forward Field — built in 1943 — which became Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. The building features a nose section, skylight cockpit and tail, as well as the distinctive inverted gull wings for which the “Bent Wing Bird” earned its nickname.”

Air Traffic

The busiest time of the year for the Fernandina Beach airport is in March each year. A plethora of private jets fly in for Amelia Island’s top posh event, the Amelia Concours d’Elegance. (See collection of articles about this wonderful week of collector car events.) During the Amelia Concours event, additional tower air traffic control services are provided by the Florida Army National Guard at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport.

Tour The Airport

The public is welcome to visit the observation deck and tour the Fernandina airport terminal during regular business hours.

Rent Event Space

Public areas of the airport terminal are also available for rent to host special events at the property. Contact the city of Fernandina’s Special Events Coordinator at 904-310-3102 (plan ahead at least two months in advance of event date).