Southwest Florida International Airport (IATA: RSW, ICAO:KRSW) is a major county-owned airport in the South Fort Myers region of unicorporated Lee Counttry (Florida/United States). The airport serves the Southwest Florida region, including the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Naples-Marco Island and Punta Gorda metropolitan areas. Currently it is the second-busiest single-runway airport in the United States, after San Diego International Airport. In 2019, the airport served 10,225,180 passengers, the most in its history.

The airport has one terminal with three concourses: Concourse B (Gates B1-B9), Concourse C (Gates C1-C9), and Concourse D (Gates D1-D10). Customs and Immigration services for international flights are located on the lower level of Concourse B. “Concourses A and E” designations have been reserved for the planned future expansion of the terminal. The most flights to Fort Myers are served by Southwest, Delta Airlines and Frontier. Eurowings is the only Airline which connect directly Fort Myers with Europe all year long (Destination is Dusseldorf).

Written by Martin Rogosz. Visited February 2020.

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Airline Variety
Photo Locations
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Airport Information
Runways
06/24	3.658m/12.000ft
Terminals
Concourse B	Air Canada, Eurowings, Frontier, Southwest, SunCountry
Concourse C	Delta Airlines, United Airlines (and some arrivals and early morning departure in Concourse B), WestJet
Concourse D	American Airlines, Jetblue, Spirit Airlines
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not really needed.
Car/Public Transport	Car is necessary for Spot #1 and #2.
Restrooms	There is a gas station at the entrance to the airport. Otherwise in the the terminal but nothing at the locations expect #3.
Drinks/Food	There is a gas station with a Seven Eleven and Wendys at the entrance to the airport. Otherwise in the restaurants of the nearby villages and the terminal.
Hotels	No hotel with an airport view. A couple of hotels at the junction of the I75 and Highway 876.
Season	Best from November to March, when temperatures are still enjoyable. Avoid May through November even when it will get hot and humidity will increase, so thunderstorms and heat distortion can be a problem.
Runway Usage
06/24	Runway 06 is for sure the preferred direction and the best direction for taking photos.

	Spot #1 – Air Cargo Ln – Approach RWY06
WHERE	After leaving the Airport turn right on first traffic light into Air Cargo Ln (after passing “Long Term Parking” on left side of the road). Dircetly after turn is on right side a concrete slabs area, here you can park for a short time. When you drive along the “Air Cargo Ln” you see the Runway and can stop next to the road, but don´t stay too long as parking is not allowed there and Police will ask you to leave. Better to park at the terminal and walk from there which is no problem (~25min) or from the Long Term Parking (~15min).
WHAT	Arrival RWY06
TIME	From sunrise till 2 p.m.
MISC.	Nothing nerby
FOCAL LENGTH	Depending where you stay 70-150mm (A320: ~160mm)

RSW Spot1

RSW Spot1

RSW Spot1

RSW Spot1

RSW Spot1

RSW Spot1

	Spot #2 – Service Rd – Line up and arrivals RWY06
WHERE	After leaving the Airport turn right on first traffic light into “Air Cargo Ln” (after passing “Long Term Parking” on left side of the road), after 500m turn again right into “Service Rd” and follow the road in Terminal direction. Best position is in “S” curve but don´t stay too long as parking is not allowed there and Police will ask you to leave. Walking from the terminal is no problem (~15-20min) or from the Long Term Parking (~10-15min).
WHAT	Taxiway, line up and arrival/departure RWY06
TIME	From sunrise till 2 p.m.
MISC.	Nothing nerby. Ladder not neccessary as the fence is on a lower level.
FOCAL LENGTH	Taxiway: 70-130mm, Runway: 100-300mm (A321: ~105mm)

RSW Spot2

RSW Spot2

RSW Spot2

	Spot #3 – Terminal view
WHERE	At a public area inside the main Terminal are big windows (but Green discolored) on the Check-in level. Easy to find and directly visible from the entrance.
WHAT	You can take photos during taxi inside concourse area and at gate.
TIME	From around 11:00h till 17:30h, depending on season
MISC.	No problem with Police or Security. All what you need is inside of the terminal. First 20min parking are free of charge.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm (B737: ~90mm)

RSW Spot3

RSW Spot3

RSW Spot3

	Spot #4 – Official Viewing Area
WHERE	This is the one and only official viewing area at RSW. Continue from spot 1 along airport road and pass the 06 approach to the opposite side of the field. When the streets makes a 90 degree left turn you can find the viewing area to your left. It is not the best place as the viewing area is fenced off besides the common airport fence. So you have two fences infront of you. You can clear it if you stand up on the top of your car.
WHAT	Nice place for sit down in the car and watch the traffic but not for taking photos because of the two fences. Departures from 24 might be possible but rare.
TIME	Most time of the day it is backlit. Sun turns around from late afternoon until sunset in the summer.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. Just a flat area with some parking space.
FOCAL LENGTH	Not known.

No pictures available. Location itself looks like this.