Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (ECP)

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (IATA: ECP) is the primary commercial airport serving Bay County, Panama City, Panama City Beach, and the Scenic Highway 30A resort corridor along Florida's Gulf Coast. It provides direct domestic flights connecting the region to major nationwide hubs.

Official Website: iflybeaches.com

Phone: +1 (850) 763-6751

Social Media:

Terminals

The airport operates a single modern two-level passenger terminal building featuring seven departure gates (gates 1 through 7). The lower level accommodates arrivals, baggage claim carousels, and rental car counters, while the upper level hosts airline ticketing, TSA security screening, and departure concourses.

Annual Passenger Traffic (2025): 1.94 million passengers (1,937,224 recorded travelers).

Information Desks

Customer service and information stations are located in the central terminal lobby and adjacent to the baggage claim area on the ground floor.

 Location

The airport is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of downtown Panama City and approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of Panama City Beach in Bay County, Florida.

What services does Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (ECP) offer?

The terminal features a comprehensive selection of amenities, dining, and passenger convenience services.

Financial Services and Connectivity

• Automated Teller Machines (ATMs): Located on Level 1 near the gift shop.
• Free Wi-Fi: Complimentary high-speed wireless internet available throughout the entire terminal building.
• Charging Stations: Power outlets and mobile charging ports located in boarding gate waiting areas.

Dining

Dining venues align operating hours with daily flight schedules:

• The Dive In Restaurant: Located on Level 1 near the terminal entrance (pre-security).
• Surf's Up Bar & Grill: Located on Level 2 in the gate concourse (post-security).
• Grayton Beer Landing Strip: Craft beer bar and light bites located on Level 2 (post-security).
• Grab-and-go coffee and snack kiosks in the gate lounge.

Shopping

Retail and gift shops are located on Level 1 (pre-security) and Level 2 (post-security), offering newspapers, magazines, beachwear, travel accessories, snacks, and local Florida souvenirs.

Baggage Services

• Luggage carts available in the baggage claim area.
• Due to federal TSA regulations, luggage storage lockers or left-luggage facilities are not available at the airport.

Additional Amenities

• Military Welcome Center: A dedicated hospitality lounge for active-duty military, veterans, Department of Defense personnel, and their families, open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM with complimentary beverages, snacks, TV, and Wi-Fi.
• Mother's Room: Located on Level 1 near gates 6 and 7, featuring a comfortable glider chair, baby-changing station, sink, and children's table.
• FlyBrary: Community book-exchange station in partnership with Northwest Regional Library Services.
• Pet Relief Area: Fenced and equipped service animal and pet relief area situated outside the terminal on the north end near ground transportation.
• Lost and Found: Managed by the Airport Police Department. For inquiries regarding lost items, call +1 (850) 769-6033.

Public and private transportation

Travel time between the terminal and downtown Panama City or Panama City Beach is approximately 25 to 30 minutes by road.

Rideshare Services

Uber and Lyft operate at ECP. The designated passenger pickup zone is located across the terminal drive, opposite the main entrance doors near the covered parking lot.

Taxis and Private Shuttles

Multiple authorized local taxi companies and shuttle operators serve arriving passengers curbside outside the baggage claim facility, providing metered and flat-rate transport to Panama City Beach, 30A resort towns, and neighboring destinations.

Resort and Private Transfers

Pre-arranged private shuttles, luxury sedans, and resort vans service hotels and condominiums throughout South Walton, Scenic Highway 30A, and Destin upon reservation.

Public Transit

There is currently no direct fixed-route public bus transit connecting the airport terminal with Panama City or the beach communities.

View official ground transportation details

Car rental agencies

Rental car company counters are conveniently located on the ground floor inside the main terminal building, adjacent to baggage claim.

On-Site Rental Agencies

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Hertz
• National
• Thrifty

Rental vehicles are picked up and returned in the lot adjacent to the terminal building following the airport entrance roadway signage.

Car Rental Requirements

• Valid driver's license held for at least one year (and an International Driving Permit if the original license is not in English or the Latin alphabet).
• Major credit card issued in the primary driver's name for security deposit authorization.
• Minimum age of 21 years (renters between 21 and 24 years old typically incur an underage driver surcharge).
• Passport or government-issued photo ID for international travelers.

Parking services at Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (ECP)

The airport offers surface and covered parking facilities patrolled 24/7 by the Airport Police Department, located within walking distance of the terminal.

Parking Facilities

• Short-Term Standard Parking: Situated directly in front of the terminal. The first 20 minutes are free; 21 to 30 minutes is $2.00; 31 to 60 minutes is an additional $2.00; each additional hour is $4.00; maximum daily rate is $13.00.
• Long-Term Parking: Ideal for multi-day travel, with a maximum daily rate of $11.00.
• Covered Parking: Weather-protected spaces at $5.00 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $15.00.
• Cell Phone Waiting Lot: Free waiting lot for motorists picking up arriving travelers on curbside call.

Parking Information

• Grace Period: The first 20 minutes are complimentary in short- and long-term standard lots.
• Payment Methods: Cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Managed by LAZ Parking.
• Accessible Parking: Stalls reserved for travelers with disability permits located close to terminal walkways.

Check official parking rates and map

Facilities for passengers with special needs

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is fully accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing a barrier-free experience for passengers with special needs.

Facility Accessibility

• Level terminal layout featuring gentle ramps, wide elevators, and automated entrance and exit doors.
• Ticket counters, TSA security checkpoints, and baggage claim areas designed with generous clearance for mobility equipment.
• ADA-compliant restrooms and dedicated unisex family restrooms available on both terminal levels.
• Accessible drinking fountains at convenient heights.
• Visual and audio flight announcements and paging throughout the concourse.

Requesting Special Assistance

Passengers requiring wheelchair service, electric cart transport, or boarding assistance should notify their airline at least 48 hours prior to scheduled departure.

Accessible Parking and Service Animals

Designated disabled permit parking stalls are located directly adjacent to pedestrian terminal walkways in short-term and long-term parking lots. An ADA-compliant, enclosed relief area for service animals is available outside the north end of the terminal building.