Key West airline travelers are few and most are leaving amid COVID-19, officials said
Key West International Airport remains open with flights and departures during the COVID-19 pandemic, as do all U.S. airports, which are regulated by the federal government.
But the number of passengers flying into Key West has dwindled, Monroe County spokeswoman Kristen Livengood said Saturday afternoon.
A flight that arrived Friday was supposed to have 27 passengers.
Instead, the plane landed with seven aboard, including a family with three children.
“All were property owners in Monroe County,” Livengood said.
Of the five commercial flights welcomed into Key West today, 18 passengers came in while 62 left, she said. The flights were from Miami, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
“Believe me, flights are at a bare minimum right now,” said Mayor Teri Johnston, in a video statement posted Saturday on her public Facebook page.
“Our flights are diminishing every single day but it’s still an area of concern and we want to make sure we’re watching the airport closely,” Johnston said.
On average, passenger counts this time of year range in the 70 to 124 passengers per flight.
Due to COVID-19, the number has been between two and 10, and most are residents or property owners.
“Outbound fights have been significantly fuller,” Livengood said.
The statements come as many locals say the airports must be closed along with the checkpoints on U.S. 1 and Card Sound Road that restrict access to the Florida Keys to residents, essential workers and delivery trucks.
However, those two road checkpoints may come down Sunday at 6 p.m., county officials said Saturday, surprising many since that information was not provided during the county’s extensive media event staged Friday morning on the 18-mile stretch.
But air travel remains open.
Passengers are being screened, the county said.
“Florida Department of Health in Monroe County and Key West International Airport have implemented state-directed screening, which includes a separate facility and isolation area,” Livengood said.
“Passengers fill out the Dept. of Health-required questionnaire, have their temperatures taken, and are provided the Executive Order 20-82,” she said.
Under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order, those coming from an airport from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut — and now Louisiana — must quarantine themselves for 14 days.
It is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by prison plus possibly a fine, not to follow the directive.
Most flights to Key West from the areas in the directive are canceled or consolidated, the county reported Saturday.
“The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County trained Monroe County Fire Rescue to provide the follow up with each individual,” Livengood said.
“Although not mandated, the Key West and Marathon airport staff have been giving a copy of the directive to arriving general aviation flights from those areas as well,” she said.
This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 3:45 PM.
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