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Naples Airport Authority directs staff to pursue due diligence on American Airlines proposal amid resident noise concerns
Summary
The board heard hours of public comment opposing commercial flights, discussed facility, security and legal issues, and authorized staff to continue negotiations with American Airlines while launching a community survey and further planning on terminal capacity.
The Naples Airport Authority on Tuesday directed staff to pursue due diligence on a letter of intent from American Airlines proposing limited scheduled service into Naples later this year, after hearing intense public concern about noise and neighborhood impacts.
Staff told the board the airline has proposed three daily arrivals and three departures using CRJ-700 aircraft, scheduled outside the airport’s voluntary curfew. "They are proposing 3 arrivals, 3 daily departures, utilizing CRJ 700 aircraft," Justin Laub, Deputy Executive Director, told the board during the presentation. American’s network planner said the carrier planned year‑round service that would connect Naples with the carrier’s Charlotte hub. "We're planning to operate 2 to 3 flights per day starting this December," Jordan Pack, director of domestic network planning at American Airlines, said.
The proposed schedule and aircraft prompted sustained public comment. "The closer I've moved down here to the downtown Naples area, the plane noise has just gotten worse," resident Theresa Griffin told the board during public comment, describing night and early‑morning disturbances. Mary Tatagen, founder of Quiet Florida, urged the Authority to block American’s introduction while the city and NAA remain in a legal dispute over a long‑term lease, arguing expansion would "escalate an already fragile legal situation" and worsen public‑health impacts tied to chronic aircraft noise.
Board discussion focused on operational feasibility, legal obligations and community outreach. Staff said one gate in the North Road Terminal would be reconfigured for TSA screening and that construction modifications appear manageable. Counsel warned the Authority has a legal duty to negotiate in good faith when an air carrier presents a qualifying proposal. "If the airport has the facilities that can accommodate the proposal, it must make it available and cannot deny access to the facility," counsel noted, citing the council memo on obligations.
Members asked for more analysis before any agreement is signed. Topics the board asked staff to explore included: terminal reconfiguration costs and who would bear them, the TSA screening footprint and staffing, how JSX and NetJets operations would be accommodated, and whether American’s regional operator (PSA Airlines) could commit to the quieter CRJ‑700 subfleet. Vice Chair Crease emphasized the need to be precise in public outreach to avoid inflaming impressions of "heavy" aircraft; staff said American represented its proposed aircraft as quieter than many existing operators.
To inform the board and community, members asked staff to run a statistically representative survey of city and county residents and to continue work on a broader strategic plan that assesses terminal capacity, tenant needs and projected demand. Staff said a 12–15 question sentiment survey could reach roughly 500 respondents and be ready for the June meeting. The board also asked for a larger planning exercise to model near‑term growth from fractionals, eVTOLs and hospitality demand.
The direction to proceed with additional due diligence, the survey and a strategic assessment came after extended discussion; a formal motion to proceed was raised and later rescinded for procedural reasons, and counsel confirmed the Authority retains a duty to negotiate in good faith. The staff reported it will return to the board with refined cost estimates, a TSA coordination plan, and survey results at the June meeting.
Votes at a glance: the board unanimously approved sending five written questions to the City of Naples on its Chapter 164 proposal earlier in the meeting; it also approved a design amendment for the South Quad improvements and a $677,081 contract for hangar roof coating and repairs.
What’s next: staff will continue negotiations with American and pursue the community survey and terminal planning work; the board expects a follow‑up in June with survey results and more detailed proposals and costs.
