Noise complaints could cause the Naples Airport to relocate

After receiving its fair share of noise complaints, the Naples Airport is considering moving.

The Naples Airport Authority is looking to move the airport and is discussing options for where to go.

The Naples Airport has been around for a long time.

“It was built out east of the Gordon River in a swampy area where nobody would ever want to live, right? And obviously, over the following eight decades, that has changed tremendously,” said Zac Burch, Naples Airport Authority communications manager.

For 80 years, planes have been flying through here.

“It’s really peaceful. You don’t hear really much, nothing,” said Carmen, who lives across the street from the airport.

But not all neighbors agree. The airport has received its fair share of noise complaints and is considering some options.

“We felt it was it was the right time to go forward and do a study that can look at what are the opportunities. What are the potential costs, or is there a location that would be available?” Burch said.

They are searching for a location that would prompt fewer noise complaints and provide better storm resiliency.

“We had, you know, over two feet of water covering most of our runways during the storm,” Burch said.

The feasibility study will also look into locations big enough for commercial airline services, something they can’t achieve at their current location.

“We have a 75,000-pound weight limit,” Burch said.

But where can the Naples Airport move?

“Any new location would likely be outside of the city limits,” Burch said.

This is something residents like Carmen don’t think is fair.

“Why people complain about it so much when an airport was there already?” she said.

This study doesn’t mean anything will change immediately. In fact, it won’t be completed at least for another few months.

And if a new location does come up at the end of it, the board will still need to approve, and relocating will be many years in the making.