Below is an analysis of the number of destinations served by each airline that had a major presence in the state and some analysis of what happened to each airline since in Florida. Tomorrow we will print a list of destinations from each Florida airport served at the time.

Destinations served nonstop by airline (includes express/connection partners – DOES NOT include Codeshare)

Legacy airlines (5 or more destinations served nonstop)

Legacy – large Florida presence 

American 

Miami                101

Fort Lauderdale   11

Orlando                 8

Tampa                   7

American’s Miami hub is the airline’s third largest in 2023 behind Dallas/Fort Worth and Charlotte. It’s Fort Lauderdale focus city was dismantled in 2012 and the airline is now a blip at that airport. American was bought by US Airways in 2013 and kept the American name. AA carried more passengers to Florida in the last pre-Covid year, 2019 than any other airline. 

Continental 

Tampa               17

Fort Lauderdale 14

Miami                 11

West Palm Beach 7

Fort Myers  5

Key West 5

Orlando 5

Continental was merged into United who continues to struggle to maintain any Florida presence.

Delta

Orlando   51

Fort Lauderdale 26

Tampa 26

Fort Myers 8

Tallahassee 8

Pensacola 7

West Palm Beach 6

Miami    5 

Delta, the top airline in Florida in 2005, has retreated from most Florida destinations except Miami as low-fare competition from Spirit and JetBlue as well as the success of post AirTran-merger, Southwest and other factors have reduced its flying largely just to hubs. The airline had planned to launch a new international-flying Miami hub in 2020 with its equity partners but with COVID-19 it is assumed those plans will be shelved now. Delta filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and while many Florida destinations weren’t drawn down in terms of flights until several years later, the airline has never recovered its footing here. Ironically, Miami is now Delta’s Florida focus in 2023, though it was the station with the LEAST nonstop DL destinations 18 years ago.

US Airways

Fort Lauderdale     24

Orlando                 10

Fort Myers            5

Tampa                   5

US Airways was Delta’s primary competition as the top airline in Florida from 1990 to 2004. In late 2004, US Airways entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Fort Lauderdale remained one of the few US Airways cities in its network with connecting options as the airline was trying to maintain a foothold in Latin America, so it was not drawn down the way other Florida destinations were until America West bought the carrier in 2006 but kept the US Airways name. Eventually Florida cities were all spokes in the network, a far cry from the heady days of the 1990’s when if you flew to or from Florida, it was likely you flew US Airways. American inherited this smaller network when merging in 2013 with US Airways.

Legacy (smaller Florida presence)

Northwest

Orlando   7

Fort Lauderdale 6

Tampa 6

Fort Myers 5

Bought by Delta in 2009. 

United

Orlando 5

Southwest and AirTran

Southwest and Orlando-based AirTran merged in 2012 and became the top carrier in most large Florida markets*. 

*Southwest  lost the #1 position in Fort Lauderdale in 2019 largely due to the 737MAX grounding, falling to third behind jetBlue and Spirit, but as recently as 2018 they were the number one airline in terms of domestic passengers carried from FLL. They finished 2019 as the number one carrier in Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa, three of the five busiest airports in the state (Miami and Fort Lauderdale are the other two) . Because Southwest never served Miami before opening service in 2020, and American maintains a massive hub there, American carries more passengers to/from Florida than any other airline before Covid. But if you exclude Miami, Southwest is well in front.  In fact before the COVID-19 cuts, Southwest flew to over 45 destinations nonstop each from Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. 

AirTran

Orlando   15

Tampa     14

Fort Lauderdale 7

Fort Myers  5

Southwest

Orlando                24

Tampa                  24

Fort Lauderdale   14

Jacksonville          8

Others with large Florida presence in 2005.

JetBlue

Fort Lauderdale  7

Orlando             5

JetBlue today serves over 50 destinations nonstop from Fort Lauderdale including 6 in South America. They also have a large presence in Orlando and are now the number one airline in West Palm Beach. However at the time they basically flew only to/from Florida to New York and Boston. Fort Lauderdale also had service to Washington DC and California at the time accounting for the two additional destinations not served from Orlando in 2005.

Spirit

Fort Lauderdale   15

Spirit has grown into the 5th largest US Airline and the largest based in Florida though with a pending merger with jetBlue on the cards, the airline will technically be based in New York, but will maintain a large Fort Lauderdale front office staff.

Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are the airline’s two largest bases, but the airline also now has major operations in Baltimore, Las Vegas, Chicago (O’Hare), Miami, Houston (Bush) and Dallas/Fort Worth. It’s other large operation in 2005 besides Fort Lauderdale was Detroit. That base remains about the same size as it was then. 

USA 3000

Fort Myers         10 

St Petersburg     6

Fort Lauderdale  5

Went out of business in 2012

TransMeridian

Sanford              17 

Went out of business in 2005 – Allegiant by 2008 had replicated most of its flying from Sanford and in 2020 has a huge presence across the country connecting Sanford, St Petersburg and Punta Gorda with many destinations as well as Destin, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale with others. 

Below is a list of airlines and destinations from every Florida airport in 2005.

Daytona Beach

Continental Express

Cleveland, Newark 

Delta

Atlanta

Delta Connection

Cincinnati 

Fort Lauderdale 

AeroMexico

Mexico City

Air Canada 

Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto

Air Jamaica

Kingston, Montego Bay

AirTran

Atlanta, Baltimore, Gulfport/Biloxi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Flint, Philadelphia, Rochester

Air Transat

Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto 

American

Boston, Caracas, Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York (LaGuardia), Port Au Prince, Santo Domingo, St Louis, San Juan

American Eagle

Nassau

America West

Las Vegas, Phoenix

ATA

Chicago (Midway), Indianapolis

Avianca

Bogota

Bahamasair

Freeport, GeorgeTown, Nassau

CanJet

Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto 

Cape Air

Key West

Cayman Airways

Grand Cayman

Chalks

Bimini

Continental

Cleveland, Houston (Bush), Newark 

Continental Connection 

Andros Town, Freeport, GeorgeTown, Governors Harbour, Key West, Marsh Harbour, Naples, Nassau, North Eleuthera, Tampa, The Bight, Treasure Cay

Delta (includes Song)

Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Hartford/Springfield, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), Salt Lake City  

Delta Connection

Birmingham, Charleston, Cincinnati, Columbus, Greensboro, Knoxville, Lexington, Louisville, Nassau, Nashville, Norfolk, Orlando, Pensacola, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Savannah, Tallahassee

Florida Coastal

Freeport, Key West, Marathon, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, Sarasota/Brandenton, Treasure Cay 

Frontier

Denver

Guyana Airways (dba Universal)

Georgetown, Port of Spain 

JetBlue

Boston, Buffalo, Long Beach, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), Oakland, Washington (Dulles) 

Laker Airways

Freeport, Nassau

Midwest 

Milwaukee

Northwest

Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Memphis, Minneapolis/St Paul

Northwest Airlink

Indianapolis

Pan Am Clipper Connection

Portsmouth, Punta Cana, St Kitts

Southwest

Baltimore, Chicago (Midway), Houston (Hobby), Islip, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Manchester- NH, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Raleigh/Durham, St Louis, Tampa 

Spirit

Atlantic City, Cancun, Chicago (O’Hare) Denver, Detroit, Freeport, Los Angeles, Myrtle Beach, Nassau, New York (LaGuardia), Providence, San Juan, San Salvador-Bahamas*, Santo Domingo, Washington (National)

*Flown on behalf of Club Med 

Sun Country

Minneapolis/St Paul

TransMeridian

Sanford 

United (includes Ted)

Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Washington (Dulles)

USA3000

Cleveland, Detroit, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

US Airways 

Baltimore, Boston, Cancun, Charlotte, Hartford/Springfield, Guatemala City, Kingston, Montego Bay, Newark, New York (LaGuardia), Panama City-Panama, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, San Jose-Costa Rica, San Juan, San Salvador-El Salvador, Santo Domingo, Washington (National)

US Airways Express

Freeport, Great Exuma, Key West, Nassau, Orlando, Providenciales, Tampa

WestJet

Calgary 

Fort Myers

Air Canada

Montreal, Toronto 

AirTran

Atlanta, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Washington (National)

American

Chicago (O’Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth, St Louis

ATA Airways

Chicago (Midway), Indianapolis

CanJet

Toronto

Condor 

Frankfurt

Continental

Cleveland, Houston (Bush), Newark 

Continental Connection 

Key West, Tampa 

Delta (including Song)

Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, New York (JFK) 

Delta Connection

Cincinnati, Columbus, Hartford/Springfield, Orlando

Frontier

Denver

Independence Air

Washington (Dulles)

JetBlue

Boston, New York (JFK)

LTU

Dusseldorf

Midwest

Milwaukee

Northwest 

Detroit, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St Paul 

Spirit

Atlantic City, Chicago (O’Hare) Detroit, Providence

Sun Country

Minneapolis/St Paul

United (including Ted)

Chicago (O’Hare), Denver 

United Express

Washington (Dulles)

USA 3000

Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, St Louis, Washington (Dulles)

US Airways

Charlotte, Columbus, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington (National)

Fort Walton Beach/Destin

Continental Express

Houston (Bush)

Delta

Atlanta

Delta Connection

Atlanta, Cincinnati 

Northwest Airlink

Memphis

Gainesville

Continental Connection

Miami, Tampa

Delta Connection

Atlanta

Northwest Airlink

Memphis

US Airways Express

Charlotte 

Jacksonville

AirTran

Atlanta

American 

Dallas/Fort Worth

American Eagle

Miami, St Louis 

Continental 

Houston (Bush), Newark

Continental Connection

Tampa

Delta

Atlanta

Delta Connection

Cincinnati, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia) 

Independence Air 

Washington (Dulles)

Northwest

Detroit, Minneapolis/St Paul

Northwest Airlink

Memphis, Minneapolis/St Paul

Southwest

Baltimore, Birmingham, Fort Lauderdale, Indianapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Tampa

United Express

Chicago, Washington (Dulles)

US Airways

Charlotte, Philadelphia

Key West

American Eagle

Miami

Cape Air

Fort Lauderdale, Naples 

Continental Connection

Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Tampa

Delta Connection

Atlanta, Orlando

Florida Coastal

Fort Lauderdale, Marathon 

US Airways Express

Fort Lauderdale  

Marathon

Florida Coastal

Fort Lauderdale, Key West

Melbourne 

Delta

Atlanta

Delta Connection

Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York (JFK) 

Miami

Aerolineas Argentinas

Buenos Aires

AeroMexico

Merida, Mexico City

Air Canada 

Montreal, Toronto 

Air France

Fort de France, Paris (CDG), Port Au Prince 

AirTran

Atlanta

Air Jamaica

Kingston

Alaska

Seattle

American

Atlanta, Aruba, Baltimore, Boston, Buenos Aires, Cali, Caracas, Cancun, Charlotte, Chicago (O’Hare), Curacao, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Grand Cayman, Hartford/Springfield, Houston (Bush), Guatemala City, Guyaquil, Indianapolis, Kingston, Las Vegas, La Paz, Lima, London (Heathrow), Los Angeles, Madrid, Managua, Manchester, Maracaibo, Mexico City, Medellin, Montego Bay, Montevideo, Montreal, Nashville, New Orleans, Newark, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), Panama City-Panama, Paris (CDG) Philadelphia, Phoenix,  Providence, Providenciales, Port au Prince, Port of Spain, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Quito, Raleigh/Durham, Rio de Janeiro, St Croix St Kitts, St Louis, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Thomas, San Francisco  San Jose-Costa Rica, San Juan, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, Santa Cruz, Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Santo Domingo, São Paulo, Tampa, Tegucigalpa, Toronto, Washington (National)

American Eagle

Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Fort Myers, Freeport, Jacksonville, Key West, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Tampa, Treasure Cay 

Alitalia

Milan (Malpensa)

Avianca

Barranquilla, Bogota, Medellin 

Bahamasair

Nassau

British Airways

London (Heathrow)

BWIA

Georgetown, Port of Spain

Cayman Airways

Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman 

Continental

Cleveland, Houston (Bush), Newark

Continental Connection 

Gainesville, Key West, Marsh Harbor, Naples, Nassau North Eleuthera, Orlando, Tampa 

Copa

Panama City-Panama

Delta 

Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York (JFK)

Delta Connection

Orlando, Tallahassee

Iberia

Madrid

LAN

Guayaquil, Lima, Quito, Santiago de Chile

Lufthansa

Frankfurt

LTU

Dusseldorf, Munich 

Martinair

Amsterdam

Northwest

Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St Paul

SWISS

Zurich

Suriname Air

Paramaribo

TACA

Guatemala City, Managua, San Jose, Costa Rica 

TAM

Belo Horizonte, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro,  São Paulo, 

United

Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Washington (Dulles)

US Airways 

Baltimore, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

VIASA

Caracas, Maracaibo 

Virgin Atlantic

London (Heathrow)

Naples

Cape Air

Key West

Continental Connection

Fort Lauderdale, Miami

Delta Connection

Atlanta

Orlando

AeroMexico

Mexico City

Air Canada 

Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto

Air Jamaica

Montego Bay

AirTran

Atlanta, Baltimore, Bloomington, Chicago (Midway), Dayton, Dallas/Fort Worth, Flint, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Moline, Newport News, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Wichita 

Air Transat

Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto 

Alaska

Seattle

American

Boston, Chicago (O’Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (LaGuardia), St Louis, San Juan

America West

Las Vegas, Phoenix

ATA

Indianapolis, San Juan 

Bahamasair

Nassau

British Airways

London (Gatwick)

CanJet

Calgary, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg

Condor

Frankfurt, San Jose-Costa Rica 

Continental

Cleveland, Houston (Bush), Newark 

Continental Connection 

Key West, Miami

Copa

Panama City-Panama

Delta (includes Song)

Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Hartford/Springfield, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), San Francisco, Salt Lake City  

Delta Connection

Asheville, Austin, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Charleston, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Columbia, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Freeport, Greensboro, Greenville/Spartanburg, Gulfport/Biloxi, Huntsville, Jackson, Kansas City, Knoxville, Lexington, Louisville, Little Rock, Mobile, Nashville, Nassau, New Orleans, Norfolk, Northwest Arkansas, Oklahoma City, Panama City-Florida, Pensacola, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, San Antonio, Savannah, Tallahassee, Tri Cities, Tulsa, Washington (National)  

Frontier

Denver

Icelandair

Reykjavik

Independence Air

Greensboro, Greenville/Sparenburg, Washington (Dulles)

JetBlue

Boston, Long Beach, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), Washington (Dulles) 

LTU

Dusseldorf

Martinair

Amsterdam

Midwest 

Milwaukee

Northwest

Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee,  Minneapolis/St Paul

Northwest Airlink

Indianapolis

Southwest

Albany, Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Chicago (Midway), Fort Lauderdale, Hartford/Springfield, Houston (Hobby), Islip, Jackson, Kansas City, Manchester, NH,  Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Providence, Raleigh/Durham, St Louis, San Antonio

Spirit

Atlantic City, Detroit

Sun Country

Minneapolis/St Paul, Orlando 

United (includes Ted)

Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington (Dulles)

US Airways 

Baltimore, Buffalo, Charlotte, Harrisburg, Hartford/Springfield, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Washington (National)

US Airways Express

Fort Lauderdale 

Virgin Atlantic

London (Gatwick), Manchester

WestJet

Calgary 

Panama City 

Delta Connection

Atlanta, Cincinnati, Orlando 

Northwest Airlink

Memphis

Pensacola

AirTran

Atlanta

American Eagle

Dallas/Fort Worth

Continental Connection

Miami, Tampa 

Continental Express

Houston (Bush)

Delta

Atlanta

Delta Connection

Atlanta, Cincinnati, Fort Lauderdale,  New York (JFK), Orlando, Tampa

Northwest Airlink

Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St Paul 

US Airways

Charlotte 

US Airways Express

Charlotte

Sanford

Jetsgo 

Montreal, Toronto 

Pan Am Clipper Connection

Hartford/Springfield, Portsmouth, San Juan 

TransMeridian

Allentown, Atlanta, Belleville, Cincinnati, Fort Lauderdale, Harrisburg, Las Vegas, Louisville, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata,  Rockford, San Juan, Syracuse, Toledo, Washington (Dulles) 

St Petersburg/Clearwater

CanJet

Halifax, Hamilton, Toronto

USA 3000

Chicago (O’Hare), Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St Louis 

Sarasota/Bradenton

AirTran

Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago (Midway)

American Eagle

Dallas/Fort Worth

ATA

Chicago (Midway), Indianapolis

CanJet

Ottawa, Toronto

Continental

Newark

Continental Connection

Tampa 

Continental Express

Cleveland, Houston (Bush)

Delta

Atlanta

Delta Connection

Cincinnati

Florida Coastal 

Fort Lauderdale 

Northwest

Detroit

Northwest Airlink

Memphis, Indianapolis

US Airways

Charlotte 

Tallahassee

Continental Connection

Tampa

Continental Express

Houston (Bush)

Delta 

Atlanta

Delta Connection

Atlanta, Cincinnati, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New York (JFK), Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach  

Northwest Airlink  

Memphis 

US Airways Express

Charlotte

Tampa

Air Canada 

Montreal, Toronto

AirTran

Atlanta, Baltimore, Dayton, Flint, Gulfport/Biloxi, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Moline, Newport News, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Wichita 

American

Chicago (O’Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York (LaGuardia), St Louis, San Juan

American Eagle

Nassau

America West

Las Vegas, Phoenix

ATA

Chicago (Midway), Indianapolis

Bahamasair

Nassau

British Airways

London-Gatwick

Cayman Airways

Grand Cayman

Condor

Frankfurt

Continental

Cleveland, Houston (Bush), Newark 

Continental Connection 

Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key West, Miami, Naples, Nassau, North Eleuthera, Pensacola, Sarasota/Bradenton, Tallahassee, West Palm Beach 

Continental Express

Cleveland

Delta (includes Song)

Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Hartford/Springfield, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), Salt Lake City  

Delta Connection

Charleston, Cincinnati, Columbia, Greensboro, Greenville/Spartanburg, Huntsville, Knoxville,  Lexington, Louisville, Mobile, Nashville, Nassau, New Orleans, Norfolk, Pensacola, Raleigh/Durham, Tallahassee

Frontier

Denver

Independence Air

Greensboro, Washington (Dulles)

JetBlue

Boston, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia), 

Midwest 

Milwaukee

Northwest

Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Memphis, Minneapolis/St Paul

Northwest Airlink

Indianapolis

Southwest

Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Chicago (Midway), Fort Lauderdale, Hartford/Springfield, Houston (Hobby), Indianapolis, Islip, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Manchester-NH,  Nashville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence, Raleigh/Durham, St Louis, San Antonio, West Palm Beach

Spirit

Atlantic City, Detroit

Sun Country

Minneapolis/St Paul, Orlando 

United (includes Ted)

Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Washington (Dulles)

US Airways 

Baltimore, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington (National)

US Airways Express

Fort Lauderdale

WestJet

Toronto  

West Palm Beach

Air Canada

Montreal, Toronto  

AirTran

Atlanta, Philadelphia

American 

Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York (LaGuardia)

Bahamasair

Nassau

CanJet

Montreal

Continental 

Cleveland, Houston (Bush), Newark

Continental Connection

Freeport, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, Tampa 

Continental Express

Cleveland

Delta (Including Song)

Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, New York (JFK), New York (LaGuardia) 

Delta Connection

Tallahassee

Independence Air 

Washington (Dulles)

JetBlue

New York (JFK)

Northwest

Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St Paul

Northwest Airlink

Memphis, Minneapolis/St Paul

Southwest

Baltimore, Islip, Philadelphia, Tampa

Spirit

Detroit

United 

Chicago

US Airways

Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington (National)