Southwest Florida International Airport — Fort Myers, United States

Serving the fast-growing Gulf Coast region around Fort Myers, RSW handles a passenger surge every winter as so-called snowbirds flee colder northern climates for southwest Florida's beaches, golf courses, and retirement communities. The airport provides the main air access point for nearby destinations including Naples, Cape Coral, and the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva, known for shelling beaches and a more laid-back atmosphere than Florida's larger tourist hubs. RSW opened its current terminal in 2005, replacing an older, smaller facility as the region's population and tourism numbers climbed steadily over preceding decades. Hurricane season poses a recurring operational challenge, and Hurricane Ian's landfall near Fort Myers in September 2022 caused significant damage across the region, underscoring the area's vulnerability to major Gulf storms even as the airport itself resumed operations relatively quickly afterward. Seasonal swings remain dramatic, with summer traffic considerably lighter than the packed winter months.