Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport is an airport within Eglin Air Force Base, near Destin and Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida. No private aircraft are allowed, so Destin Executive Airport is used for non-commercial operations. The airport was called Northwest Florida Regional Airport until February 17, 2015 and Okaloosa Regional Airport until September 2008.Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport is served by the regional airline affiliates of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines which fly nonstop regional jet service to their respective hubs in the southern and eastern United States. Delta Air Lines also operates mainline jet service to its hub in Atlanta (ATL), while Allegiant Air flies mainline jets to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) located near Belleville, IL and also to its midwest base in Cincinnati (CVG) as well as to several other destinations. In 2008 the FAA recorded over 373,808 enplanements at the airport.HistoryIn 1957, The Okaloosa County Air Terminal opened on Eglin Air Force Base in building 89 with 3 personnel . Southern Airways was the only passenger airline, with Douglas DC-3s direct to Atlanta via several stops. Passengers entered the base through the East Gate near Valparaiso, thus the airport code of VPS. Southern would later upgrade their service into the airport with 40-passenger Martin 404 propliners before initiating the first scheduled passenger jet flights at VPS.
