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Recent News

Updated Mar 1, 2026
White Castle automated kiosk debuts at RSW terminal

White Castle opened an automated food kiosk at Southwest Florida International Airport in partnership with Just Baked and Evolvending in February 2026. The kiosk is located within RSW's renovated terminal food court, which is transitioning to a vending-focused dining model. This marks White Castle's expansion into airport environments.

North Fort Myers Neighbor
Southwest Florida Airport opens temporary TSA checkpoint for $1.1B expansion

Southwest Florida International Airport opened a new temporary TSA security checkpoint for Concourse C on February 5, 2026, as part of the Terminal Expansion Project Phase 1. The checkpoint opening marks a visible milestone in the $1.1 billion expansion project that will nearly double the terminal size, with completion expected by December 2027.

National Today·Feb 9, 2026
Lee County approves $725M bond sale for RSW terminal expansion

Lee County Port Authority approved the sale of $725.24 million in airport revenue bonds on January 15, 2026, saving approximately $4.5 million in interest costs. The bond sale supports the $1.7 billion Terminal Expansion project at RSW, which reached its halfway point in December 2025. A portion will also fund an $18 million public safety building.

Gulfshore Business·Jan 15, 2026
RSW achieves record passenger traffic with 11.15 million in 2025

Southwest Florida International Airport served 11,154,458 passengers in 2025, the most in its history and a 1% increase over the previous record set in 2024. Despite December 2025 passenger numbers declining slightly by 20,000 compared to December 2024, the year marked the busiest in airport history. RSW remains one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic.

WGCU·Jan 15, 2026

Airport Profile

Bond TypeGARB
Rate MethodologyHybrid Residual
AUA StatusActive
Agreement Period2024-10-01 – 2034-09-30
S&PAA+
Moody'sA1

Key Financial Data (FY 2024)

CPE$6.17
Signatory Landing Fee$2.0900
Enplanements5,584,257
Total Operating Revenue$126.3M
Total Operating Expense$132.6M
Operating Income$-6.3M
Total Debt$431.4M
Rate Covenant1.25x
DSC Ratio2.23x
Unrestricted Cash$210.0M
Landed Weight (1000 lbs)6,118,534

Enplaned Passengers (T-100)

4.5M-16.3%

Cost per Enplanement (CPE)

$6.17-25.3%

Revenue

$126.3M+6.5%

Expense

$132.6M-3.0%

Ratemaking Overview

Overall MethodologyHybrid Residual
Ratesetting Typeagreement
Cost Center StructureAirfield, Terminal Building, Airline Support Services
Revenue SharingNo airline revenue sharing provisions
Capital RecoveryAirport system bonds and user revenues

Settlement & True-Up

Annual true-up of actual costs versus estimates

Extraordinary Coverage Protection (ECP)

ECP TypeStrong/Traditional

Not available

Landing Fee Methodology

MethodologyResidual

Landing fees calculated on Maximum Gross Landed Weight

Terminal Rental Rate

Rate DivisorRentable square footage allocation

Terminal space rent with dedicated airline premises

Common Use & Gate Allocation

Common Use GatesYes
Common Use BaggageYes

Additional Bonds Test

Streamlined test allowing issuance upon satisfaction of either (a) a historical test certified by Authority Representative or Airport Consultant showing Net Revenues for the most recent audited fiscal year or any 12 of 24 consecutive months would satisfy the rate covenant for the next 3 full fiscal years (or 2 if no capitalized interest) when considering projected debt service on the additional bonds, OR (b) a prospective test certified by Airport Consultant showing projected Net Revenues will satisfy the rate covenant for the next 3 full fiscal years (or 2 if no capitalized interest). For Refunding Bonds, must demonstrate either (i) Maximum Bond Service Requirement will not increase, or (ii) total Bond Service Charges will not increase. Completion Bonds require certification that proceeds (net of costs) will be not more than 10% of original project costs. Authority Representative must certify no default and all required payments made.

Rate Covenant

Covenant Ratio1.25x

The County covenants to fix rates sufficient to yield Revenues at least equal to the greater of (i) Revenues plus Transfers sufficient to pay all Current Expenses and 125% of Bond Service Requirements (excluding certain amounts), or (ii) Revenues (without Transfers) sufficient to pay all Current Expenses and 100% of Bond Service Requirements (excluding certain amounts) and all other required payments including deposits to Reserve Account and Renewal, Replacement and Improvement Fund.

Flow of Funds

All Revenues deposited into Revenue Fund and applied monthly by the County, not later than the 25th day of each month, in the following order of priority: (1) Current Expenses for current month and Working Capital Account (up to 3 months average monthly Current Expenses per Annual Budget); (2) Interest Account for interest due on next Interest Payment Date (including certain Derivative Agreement payments, less amounts already on deposit and Capitalized Interest), divided by months remaining; (3) Principal Account during 12-month period before Serial Bond maturity, divided by months remaining; (4) Redemption Account during 12-month period before Term Bond Redemption Requirement due date, on parity with Principal Account payments; (5) Reserve Account to maintain Reserve Requirement; (6) Subordinated Indebtedness Fund for subordinated debt service; (7) Renewal, Replacement and Improvement Fund as required; (8) Airport Fund for any lawful purpose. Available Revenues, if designated, are deposited and applied according to the Supplemental Resolution establishing them.

1.Revenue Fund - Current Expenses — Pay Current Expenses for current month. Working Capital Account may be established within Revenue Fund with deposits up to average monthly Current Expenses times 3.
2.Interest Account — Deposit sum necessary to pay interest becoming due on Bonds on next Interest Payment Date (and certain Derivative Agreement payments, exclusive of termination payments), less amounts already on deposit and available (including Capitalized Interest), divided by number of months remaining to payment date.
3.Principal Account — During 12-month period before Serial Bond maturity date, deposit amount necessary to pay principal maturing on Serial Bonds on next maturity date, less amounts already on deposit, divided by months remaining.
4.Redemption Account — On parity with Principal Account payments, during 12-month period before Term Bond Redemption Requirement due date, deposit sum equal to Redemption Requirements plus any premium, less amounts already on deposit and available, divided by months remaining.
5.Reserve Account — Maintain Reserve Account at Reserve Requirement (lesser of Maximum Bond Service Requirement, maximum amount permitted under Code as reasonably required reserve, or amount approved by Supplemental Resolution). May use Credit Facility.
6.Subordinated Indebtedness Fund — Pay subordinated indebtedness debt service (if any) and certain termination payments under Derivative Agreements.
7.Renewal, Replacement and Improvement Fund — Deposit amounts as required by Supplemental Resolution for capital maintenance and improvements.
8.Airport Fund — Remaining amounts for any lawful purpose of the Airport System consistent with grant assurances and applicable law.

Source Documents

Official Statements

RSW-2011A-OS.pdf
RSW-2024-OS.pdf

Financial Statements

RSW 2024 FS.pdf

Airline Use Agreements

RSW-2024-2034-AUA.pdf

Rate Books

RSW-FY2026-Ratebook.pdf

Budgets

Lee-County-Port-Authority-FY-2024-25-Rates-Fees-Adopted-Budget.pdf
Lee-County-Port-Authority-FY-2024-25-Adopted-Budget.pdf
FY-2025-26-Adopted-Budget-V2.pdf
Budget-Amendment-Resolution-24-11-15PA-RSW-Operating-Fund.pdf

Source: FAA CATS Form 5100-127, DOT T-100 Market Data, Airport Official Statements · Hub classification: FAA CY 2024 Enplanement Data · Prepared by DWU Consulting