Pensacola International Airport - History

History

In 1935, the first civilian passenger terminal was opened. Two years later, the first airline service began. However, Atlantic and Gulf Airlines then went out of business only a few months later after failing to be awarded an airmail contract. In 1938, National Airlines began service out of Pensacola Municipal Airport to Mobile and Jacksonville. From 1940 to 1945, the airport was used as a U.S. Navy training facility. During this time, the Navy built a new control tower and added a fourth runway. In 1947, Eastern Air Lines began service out of Pensacola. In 1952, a new modern terminal replaced the 17 year old original terminal. When this terminal opened, the airport was dedicated to L.C. Hagler, the former mayor of Pensacola. In 1968, Eastern began the first scheduled jet service from Pensacola. In 1978, after federal deregulation of the airline industry, several air carriers began new services from Pensacola. Continental and Delta both initiated service to Pensacola at this time. Also in 1978, a National Airlines Boeing 727 jetliner crashed into Escambia Bay while on approach for landing, resulting in the first fatal airline accident in the Pensacola area. In 1979, US Airways, then operating as USAir, commenced new service into Pensacola. In 1987, an Eastern Airlines Douglas DC-9 jet crashed upon landing at the airport, splitting the aircraft in half. In 1990, the current terminal was built and AirTran Airways began jet service out of the airport. In 2005, United Express began service out of Pensacola.