As part of Key West International Airport’s ongoing Concourse A project, the outdoor patio in the departures lounge closed Monday, November 6, 2023. The closure was necessary due to operational constraints as part of the overall construction project, but also adds to Key West International Airport’s commitment to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment for travelers.

“We have joined more than 600 other smoke-free airports across the country,” said Richard Strickland, Executive Director of Airports. “With November being National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, paired with the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of the month, we believe November was an appropriate month for our airport to go smoke free.”

Included in the effort is a donation to Florida Keys Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) in the amount of $2,000. The airport’s community marketing program aims to foster goodwill throughout the Florida Keys with airport revenue funds. AHEC will use the funds to provide informational material about smoking cessation to the nearly 1.4 million passengers who use Key West International Airport annually.

Also, as part of the effort, newly appointed Mayor Holly Raschein proclaimed November Monroe County Smoking Cessation and Lung Cancer Awareness Month at the regular meeting of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners on November 8.