ECP prepares for 4th of July travel
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport gears up for 4th of July holiday travel
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is gearing up for the 4th of July. The airport says they have seen a 10% increase in activity this May compared to May of last year. Other ways the airport has prepared for an influx of passengers include recently completed terminal and bag room expansions. To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X.
“We know that the weekend before 4th of July is very busy, which is this weekend, so we’re prepared for that,” said Parker McCellan, the Northwest Florida Beaches Airport Executive Director. “Our staff have made adjustments to schedules and everything like that, so we’re prepared for the increase in passenger activity.”
Other ways the airport has prepared for an influx of passengers include recently completed terminal and bag room expansions.
“There’s more space, there’s more people coming through here as I’ve gone through here by the years,” said Logan Nelson, who is traveling to the area for the holiday. “They needed to make a little bit more room for people, and I guess they are doing it, so it’s pretty nice.”
ECP says they have seen a 10% increase in activity this May compared to May of last year. They say that they anticipate this to continue through September and into their shoulder seasons.
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Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport celebrates new direct flight to NYC
May marked 15 years since Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport replaced Panama City Bay-County International Airport (ECP) The airport celebrated with a water cannon salute, and goody bags for all the direct flight passengers. The new, nearly three-hour flight to New York makes it easier for them to travel back to where they are originally from.Starting in November, direct flights from ECP to LGA will take place every weekend this summer, with additional flights for the 4th of July.
Since then, the area and the airport have both grown, and on Saturday, the inaugural nonstop flight between New York City’s Laguardia airport (LGA) and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport took off.
“It’s a huge travel destination for people leaving here, but also we are a destination here,” said Will Cramer, the Vice Chair of Airport Authority. “It’s nice to be able to take a direct flight and get there quickly, and to get home quickly.”
The airport celebrated with a water cannon salute, and goody bags for all the direct flight passengers.
Passengers say that the new, nearly three-hour flight to New York makes it easier for them to travel back to where they are originally from.
” We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and we want to show our daughter where we’re from, as well as where she’s from, and she can have that perspective like we do of the world at large,” said Shawna Hogan, a Walton County resident aboard the inaugural flight. ” we’re just really excited, this is amazing.”
Her daughter, Sumner Hogan, and her friend, Frankie Lauderdale, agree.
They say they are excited about shopping trips in the Big Apple.
Direct flights will take place every weekend this summer, with additional flights for the 4th of July.
Starting in November, direct flights from ECP to LGA everyday.
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Copyright 2025 WJHG. All rights reserved.
ECP expands new direct flight to NYC
ECP will now have daily direct flights to NYC starting November 6. Delta will also offer daily service from June 28, 2025, to July 6, 2025. “We are now on the map. That’s important that the Panhandle continues to grow, as we get people from the Northeast, from New York specifically,” said ECP Executive Director Parker McClellan.
Earlier this year, ECP announced that starting June 14th, they would have direct flights to LaGuardia Airport on weekends for the first time.
We are told this offer from Delta Airlines marked the first time in history that an area airport had a nonstop flight to New York City.
Thanks to the demand for those flights, ECP announced on Wednesday that it will now have daily direct flights to NYC starting November 6.
“We’ve made a lot of announcements over the last several years, but New York seems to be the one that has the most energy. We are now on the map. That’s important that the Panhandle continues to grow, as we get people from the Northeast, from New York specifically, that’s a good thing for our community,” ECP Executive Director Parker McClellan
Delta will also offer daily service from June 28, 2025, to July 6, 2025, to accommodate travelers for the 4th of July holiday.
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Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
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Copyright 2025 WJHG. All rights reserved.
Expanded Nonstop Daily Flights Create Year-round Access to Travel Between Northwest Florida and New York City
The St. Joe Company announces expanded nonstop daily flights between Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City, FL and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City. Starting November 6, 2025, this new daily service creates not only a convenient route but also year-round connectivity for travelers from the Northeast to discover the quality of life and attractiveness of Northwest Florida. This announcement comes on the heels of the previously announced seasonal Saturday service offered by Delta Air Lines (“Delta”) for Summer 2025. The new year- Round route will be operated with an Embraer 175 aircraft, providing passengers with a comfortable and efficient travel experience. Summer flights are available for booking now with the seasonal service beginning on June 14, 2025.
“This enhanced connectivity between Northwest Florida and a major metropolitan area such as New York City represents a significant step in expanding accessibility and driving sustained growth across our region,” said Jorge Gonzalez, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of St. Joe. “We are confident that this daily direct flight will generate increased visitation from the Northeast, supporting greater exposure to our hospitality, residential and commercial offerings. This connectivity aligns with our long-term vision to attract a broader audience and convert visitors into residents.”
The new year-round route will be operated with an Embraer 175 aircraft, providing passengers with a comfortable and efficient travel experience. “Partnering with Delta to offer this year-round service will provide our passengers with more convenient travel options and enhance connectivity between New York City and the beautiful beaches of Northwest Florida,” said Parker W. McClellan Jr., A.A.E., Executive Director of ECP. “This expanded nonstop service announcement is a testament to the growing demand for travel to our region and we look forward to welcoming travelers from the Big Apple.”
Summer flights are available for booking now with the seasonal service beginning on June 14, 2025, and will operate once weekly on Saturdays. Additionally, Delta will offer daily service from June 28, 2025 to July 6, 2025, to accommodate travelers for the Fourth of July holiday. The seasonal service flights will run through Labor Day and will be operated on Delta’s CRJ-900 aircraft.
St. Joe owns, or jointly owns and operates, a portfolio of residential, commercial and hospitality properties throughout Northwest Florida, including 12 hotels across multiple brands, from luxury boutique properties like The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach and Camp Creek® Inn in Inlet Beach to nationally recognized brands like Embassy Suites by Hilton Panama City Beach Resort.
For more information about flight schedules and availability, visit www.iflybeaches.com. To learn more about St. Joe’s residential, commercial and hospitality offerings, visit www.joe.com.
About The St. Joe Company
The St. Joe Company (“Company”) is a diversified real estate development, asset management and operating company with real estate assets and operations in Northwest Florida. The Company intends to use existing assets for residential, hospitality and commercial ventures and has significant residential and commercial land-use entitlements. The Company actively seeks higher and better uses for its real estate assets through a range of development activities. More information about St. Joe can be found on its website at www.joe.com.
©2025 The St Joe Company. “St. Joe®,” “JOE®,” the “Taking Flight” Design®, “St. Joe (and Taking Flight Design)®,” and “Camp Creek®,” are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company.
ECP announces new nonstop flight to iconic U.S. city
Delta Airlines is launching a new seasonal nonstop flight to New York City. The service will be between ECP and LaGuardia Airport for the summer of 2025. The flights will run through Labor Day and will be operated on Delta’s CRJ-900 aircraft.Starting Saturday, March 1, 2025, passengers can book their flights directly through Delta or by using the new FlyMyAirport booking tool available on the ECP website. To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter). Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com.
The service will be between ECP and LaGuardia Airport for the summer of 2025. It will start on June 14, 2025, and will operate once weekly on Saturdays.
Airport officials said Delta will also offer daily service from June 28, 2025, to July 6, 2025 to accommodate travelers for the 4th of July holiday.
The flights will run through Labor Day and will be operated on Delta’s CRJ-900 aircraft.
“This is a historic moment for ECP as we introduce our first-ever nonstop flight to New York City. Partnering with Delta Air Lines to offer this new seasonal service will provide our passengers with more convenient travel options and enhance connectivity between New York City and the beautiful beaches of Northwest Florida. We are proud to bring this exciting opportunity to our Region and look forward to welcoming travelers from the Big Apple,” said Parker W. McClellan Jr., A.A.E., Executive Director of ECP.
McClellan continues in an interview with NewsChannel 7 saying, “We’re going to NYC! We’re going to LaGuardia nonstop from Panama City to LaGuardia on Saturdays in the summer. We work with the airlines on a regular basis of kind of a list of destination we would like for them to look at that we would like to go to. New York has always been on that list. It been one that we’ve had a hard time breaking but this week when I go the call from Delta Airlines that said ‘Parker, we’re going!’ they sent me an email saying we’re going nonstop from ECP to LaGuardia (LGA)… the excitement… I was in a meeting, and I just started texting. It was a really nice thing to see that the airlines do listen to what we say!”
Starting Saturday, March 1, 2025, passengers can book their flights directly through Delta or by using the new FlyMyAirport booking tool available on the ECP website.
To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
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Copyright 2025 WJHG. All rights reserved.
Source: https://www.wjhg.com/video/2025/06/25/ecp-prepares-4th-july-travel/