Sarasota Bradenton Airport Guide: Florida’s Gulf Coast Boom
Sarasota Bradenton Airport has grown fast on Florida's Gulf Coast. Our guide covers its runways, new concourse, airlines, routes and observation deck.
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated October 20, 2026 
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport sits on the boundary of two counties on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a short drive from the beaches of Lido Key and Anna Maria Island. Sarasota Bradenton Airport handled a record 4.51 million passengers in 2025, far above its traffic of a decade earlier. Low cost airlines have fuelled that growth, and a new concourse opened in 2025 to keep up. The airport also earned a place in history on 11 September 2001.
Sarasota Bradenton Airport at a Glance
The IATA code is SRQ and the ICAO code is KSRQ. The airport lies roughly 3 miles (5 km) north of downtown Sarasota, at an elevation of 9 metres (30 feet). It has two runways and a single terminal with two concourses and 18 gates. Sarasota Bradenton Airport recorded about 4.51 million passengers in 2025, up 6.3 per cent on 2024.
Allegiant Air has its own concourse and drives much of the growth, while Delta, American, United, Southwest and JetBlue serve the main hubs. The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, created in May 1941, operates the site across about 1,102 acres. Flight, parking and terminal details are on the airport’s official website.
How Sarasota’s Airport Came to Be
Sarasota’s first airfield, Lowe Field, opened in 1929 but suffered from poor conditions and little capacity. Construction of a new airport began in 1939 with help from the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration, at a cost of about $1 million. It opened in 1940, and the two counties formed a joint authority the following year. During the Second World War the Army Air Forces took over the field as Sarasota Army Air Field and trained fighter pilots there before returning it to civil use.
The airport code has a story of its own. The field was first assigned SSO, but that could be mistaken for the SOS distress signal. In 1948 IATA chose SRQ instead, with the Q used as filler. The international title arrived in 1956. A terminal designed by Paul Rudolph and John Cromwell, leading names of the Sarasota School of architecture, opened in May 1959.
The current terminal opened on 29 October 1989. On 11 September 2001, President George W. Bush was visiting a Sarasota school when the attacks began. Air Force One took off from Runway 14 at 9:55 am in a steep, rocket like climb. Sarasota Bradenton Airport has since grown into one of the busiest airports on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Runways at Sarasota Bradenton Airport
Runway 14/32 is the main strip. It measures 2,896 metres (9,500 feet) long and 46 metres wide, with an asphalt surface. Runway 04/22 measures 1,526 metres (5,006 feet), also 46 metres wide and asphalt, and mainly serves smaller aircraft. Nearly all airline traffic uses 14/32.
The main runway comfortably handles the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 jets that dominate the schedule. A new control tower, built between 2015 and 2017, gives controllers clear views across the field. Summer thunderstorms and the hurricane season from June to November are the main weather challenges. Hurricane Milton in October 2024 badly damaged the roof of Concourse B and closed Sarasota Bradenton Airport until 16 October.
Terminals and Airlines
The single terminal has two concourses. Concourse A, opened in January 2025, has five ground level gates used exclusively by Allegiant, along with a bar, cafe, restaurant and marketplace. Concourse B has 13 gates on the upper level with jet bridges and serves every other airline. International arrivals clear customs and immigration on its lower level.
Allegiant flies Airbus A320 family jets to a long list of smaller cities in the Midwest and Northeast. Delta, American and United connect Sarasota with Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Newark and other hubs. Southwest arrived in February 2021, while JetBlue, Frontier, Breeze and Sun Country add leisure routes. Air Canada and other carriers have flown seasonal links to Canada.
Routes and Destinations
The network is overwhelmingly domestic and leisure focused. Hub routes to Atlanta, Charlotte and the New York area are among the busiest, providing one stop connections across the world. Allegiant links the Gulf Coast with dozens of mid sized cities that lack other nonstop service to southwest Florida.
Demand peaks from January to April, when snowbirds from the Northeast, Midwest and Canada escape the winter. Avelo began service to Wilmington, Delaware in November 2023, and earlier carriers such as AirTran and Elite Airways have come and gone. Summer is quieter, though families still fill flights to the beaches. Air Canada’s seasonal Toronto flight is the only international route at Sarasota Bradenton Airport.
Getting to and from Sarasota Bradenton Airport
Road is the main option. US 41, the Tamiami Trail, runs along the western edge of the airport, and Interstate 75 lies a few miles east via University Parkway. Downtown Sarasota is around 10 minutes away by car, while Lido Key and St Armands Circle take about 20 minutes. Anna Maria Island and Bradenton Beach are around 30 to 40 minutes north.
County buses from Sarasota and Manatee serve the area, but most visitors find a taxi or ride hailing car the cheapest sensible option for short hops. Rental car counters sit in the terminal, with a garage close by. There is no rail link. Parking at Sarasota Bradenton Airport is close to the terminal and generally easier than at Tampa.
Spotting and Photography
Enthusiasts have a dedicated facility. The SRQ Observation Deck opened in March 2025 and includes a live air traffic control audio feed, letting visitors watch and listen as aircraft use Runway 14/32. It offers clear views of Allegiant, Delta and Southwest jets, along with business aircraft and occasional military visitors.
Florida sun is bright year round, but summer afternoons bring towering thunderstorms. Morning light is usually clearest, before the heat haze builds. The Ringling Museum, close to the airport, makes a good add on to a visit. Respect the fences around Sarasota Bradenton Airport, keep to public areas and follow any instruction from airport staff or police.
What Comes Next
Concourse A added capacity for around 2.5 million more passengers a year, giving the airport room to grow. The question now is how quickly airlines fill it. Allegiant, Southwest and the newer low cost carriers are all adding routes, and the region’s population continues to rise.
Competition from Tampa and St Petersburg remains strong, but SRQ’s convenience and shorter queues are powerful selling points. Hurricane resilience will also shape future investment. Expect continued records and steady growth on the Gulf Coast. Compare it with other Florida airports on our Airports of the World map.
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