St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (IATA: PIE, ICAO: KPIE, FAA LID: PIE) is a public and military airport in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It serves the busy Tampa Bay Area and is close to cities like Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater.

In 2014, the airport had over one million passengers, showing its growing popularity. Most people in the Tampa Bay Area fly from Tampa International Airport, but St. Pete–Clearwater is liked by budget airlines and private plane pilots. It is very important for Allegiant Air, which is based in Las Vegas.

The airport’s slogan is “Tampa Bay The Easy Way,” and it is often called “Fly2PIE” because of its short codes. It is known for being quieter than nearby Tampa International Airport.

History

The airport is on the west shoreline of Tampa Bay, six miles north of St. Petersburg, Florida. Just after the Wright brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk in 1903, the first tickets for airline travel were sold by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line led by Tony Jannus. They used a Benoist XIV amphibious aircraft. The first flight went from near the downtown St. Petersburg Pier.

Construction of the airport began in March 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, it was used by the United States Army Air Forces to train pilots. During World War II, it helped fly patrols along the Gulf of Mexico.

After the war, the airport returned to civilian use. It was first called Pinellas International Airport, then changed to St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport in 1958.

The airport has changed a lot over the years. Jet planes arrived in the 1960s. In 2009, a major renovation added larger gates and new passenger jet bridges. Today, the airport is planning to update one of its runways.

Facilities

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport covers 1,900 acres and sits just 11 feet above the ground. It has two runways made of asphalt for planes to take off and land.

The airport is home to the Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, which is the busiest in the United States. It also has important federal services like customs and air traffic control. The airport helps bring jobs and economic benefits to the Tampa Bay area.

Events

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport is the home for the Honor Flight of West Central Florida. Each year, American veterans take a special trip to Washington D.C. to see memorials for people who fought for the United States in different wars. The program helps older veterans who usually cannot travel to Washington D.C. on their own.

Terminals

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport has one terminal with two gate areas, called A-Side and B-Side. A-Side has gates numbered 1 through 6, and B-Side has gates numbered 7 through 12. Gates 1 and 12 are special because they are only for arriving passengers. Gate 1 leads to the Ticketing A lobby, and gate 12 leads to the baggage claim area.

Airlines and destinations

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport is a place where airplanes take off and land. Several airlines use this airport to fly people to different places. The airport helps connect the Tampa Bay Area with other cities and towns.

Destination Map

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport has many places you can fly to. Some flights go all year, and others only fly at certain times. The map shows where you can travel from this airport, with different colors for different types of flights.

Statistics

Top destinations

Annual traffic

Top domestic destinations
(March 2025 – February 2026)

Rank	City	Passengers	Carriers
1	Knoxville, Tennessee	74,080	Allegiant
2	Asheville, North Carolina	74,020	Allegiant
3	Grand Rapids, Michigan	62,130	Allegiant
4	Cincinnati, Ohio	56,720	Allegiant
5	Allentown, Pennsylvania	46,660	Allegiant
6	Flint, Michigan	45,740	Allegiant
7	Indianapolis, Indiana	40,620	Allegiant
8	Des Moines, Iowa	34,560	Allegiant
9	Bangor, Maine	32,500	Allegiant
10	Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina	31,600	Allegiant