Jesse Fosnaugh began his tenure as the director of the Gulf Shores International Airport on Dec. 30.

Since then, he’s administered the forthcoming opening of a new commercial air service from a new two-gate airport in Gulf Shores. It’s the first time Gulf Shores will have commercial air service in the city’s history. It’s also the first time Allegiant Air will provide service from an airport in Alabama.

Fosnaugh provides the details of the new airport, the inaugural flight and what people can expect:

Is everything ready for the opening on Wednesday? Is the construction officially completed, or will there be last-minute punch-list items that are needed to be completed? Everything will be ready for our first flight on May 21, 2025, on Allegiant. The first flight departs around 5:15 p.m. to Knoxville. The terminal is completed and tenants are currently outfitting their work areas, furniture is getting installed, and final placement of signs and other wayfinding is underway.

How many total employees are lined up to greet passengers on Wednesday? How many new TSA agents in Gulf Shores? How many new general employees and those in the new tower who will be handling commercial flights? While I cannot divulge specific TSA or FAA staffing numbers, between ticket agents, law enforcement, fire department, baggage handlers, TSA, rental car and airport operations staff, we expect nearly 50 employees to greet the flight on May 21.

How many people will Allegiant employ at the airport? Allegiant will be represented by a third-party business contractor, Trego-Dugan, to perform aircraft ground handling and ticketing functions. They expect around 20 people to be part of the operation here in Gulf Shores.

What other public resources will be present at the airport – i.e., will there be Gulf Shores police and fire rescue with a full-time presence? The airport will have multiple agencies involved in the day-to-day operations. Aircraft Rescue Firefighting and Airport Law Enforcement responsibilities will be fulfilled by Gulf Shores Fire Department and Gulf Shores Police Department. The Public Works Department of the city of Gulf Shores also provides all landscaping and groundskeeping for the airport. It takes a village.

Back in late December, some of the beach rentals said they had concerns about transportation options from the airport to the beach condos and rentals. Do those concerns still exist? If not, how have they been resolved when it comes to getting visitors from the airport to the beach rentals (non-hotels)? There will be a plethora of ground transportation options available once you arrive into the terminal. We have arrangements with multiple shuttle and ground transportation providers including Surfside Shuttle, Robin’s Rides, and Beach Express Taxi. We also have arrangements with Uber (and) Lyft to service the airport. Rental Cars will also be available with Enterprise and Alamo. Our visitors and residents alike are going to have a seamless experience getting in and out of the airport.

An overwhelming number of vacationers to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach visit the area via automobile. What is the goal for the new airport when it comes to bringing visitors to the area – (is there a percentage or a number that is being targeted in a particular time frame?) We fully expect to have 60,000 passengers in 2025. About 80% of these passengers will be visitors and 20% will be residents flying out. Our goal is to be the premiere gateway to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Foley. Our airport team will be an extension of the hospitality that our visitors and residents have come to expect. Using our airport will be easier than ever. A true world-class experience.

What time is the flight on May 21 to McGhee Tyson Airport? The flight arrives at 1:14 p.m. and departs at 5:15 p.m.

Is it a full flight? If so, how many passengers? We do not have confirmed numbers but the flight looks well-booked in both directions when we look to buy tickets online it looks to be about 65 people booked as of today for the first flight from Knoxville on 5/21.

What time should passengers show up for this inaugural flight? 3 hours prior

Any inaugural events planned at the airport on the 21st? We will have an invite-only ribbon cutting ceremony from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Will there be any inaugural swag given out at the airport – first flight keychains, or baggage tags or anything interesting like that? We’ll have a variety of exclusive swag for the inaugural event for our guests and passengers.