Reviewing the Sarasota / Bradenton International Airport in Florida

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, SRQ, serves both the cities of Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida. Both are located just south of Tampa, Florida and are home to many resorts, golf courses and other places of interest. Located very near downtown Sarasota, the airport is in a convenient location to access both cities. The airport is served by many carriers, including the low cost carriers JetBlue and Airtran. Scheduled service is available to 13 United States locations, as well as service to Toronto, Canada.

Upon arrival to the airport, passengers are greeted by rows of palm trees, typical of many locations in Florida. Check-in is a quick process, with ample facilities for each airline, all a very short walk from the short-term parking area, as well as the curbside drop-off. After checking in, there is ample dinning and shopping facilities just prior to passing through a single security checkpoint. One interesting feature of the airport is the large waterfall just prior to security, which features a manatee, an endangered water animal from the local area. Also, large salt-water fish tank is maintained by one of the local marine research facilities.

After passing through the security checkpoint, all the gates are contained in a single pier with 14 gates. Also, a small ground terminal is maintained for a small airline operation, with service to small airports located in Florida, including Key West. Arrival to the airport is also a very smooth process. After proceeding down a flight of stairs, baggage claims are immediately visible, and typically bags arrive quickly. Car rental facilities are easily located, and the cars are no more than a 2 minute walk from the terminal. Parking at Sarasota Bradenton is located very close to the terminal, and is priced about the same as many airports in the United States.

So, if you are traveling to the west coast of Florida, remember, Tampa is not the only option for air travel. Sarasota Bradenton offers a very quick and convenient airport that can be used as an alternative for Tampa, to avoid possible congestion. The airport is much busier in the winter and spring time, as many Northerners who own residences in Florida fly down to spend the winter in a warmer environment. Located very near to the airport is the Ringling art museum, established by one of the founders of the Ringling Circus. The surrounding area is residential and resort areas, and typically a very quiet area. Overall the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is very convenient airport to travel to.