Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport is a joint civil-military airport located 18 km north of downtown Miami, Florida, United States. The FAA contracted control tower is operational from 7:00 am to 23:00 pm. There are four fixed base operators at the airport. The airport is owned by Miami-Dade County and operated by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.
The only remaining military activity at the airport is Coast Guard Air Station Miami, which operates on federal property not transferred to the county. It is home to EADS HC-144 Ocean Sentry turboprop aircraft and MH-65 Dolphin helicopters for coastal patrol, deployment on medium endurance and high endurance coast guard cutters, and air-sea rescue. Most of CGAS Miami’s facilities were built during World War II as part of Naval Air Station Miami.
The airport serves a variety of cargo, charter airlines, private jet aircraft using the US customs facility. Maintenance and modification of aircraft up to Boeing 747 size is performed by several aviation companies.
United States of America private jet charter prices
Although Miami Opa Locka Executive Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Miami are as follows.
| Heavy jet | 116.000 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 131.050 EUR |
| VIP Airliner | 193.100 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
History of Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport
Aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss retired from aircraft development and manufacturing in the 1920s and became a real estate developer in Florida. In 1926, he founded the city, naming it Opa-tisha-woka-locka (soon shortened to Opa-locka), a Native American name. This name means “the high land north of the small river with the tent site”.
In late 1925, he moved the Florida Aviation Camp from Hialeah to a field west of Opa-locka. This small airport was surrounded by the Opa-locka Golf Course. In 1929, the land, which included a World War I surplus hangar from Key West, was transferred to the City of Miami. The site became known as the Municipal Blimp Hangar. The following year, the Goodyear Blimp began operating from this hangar.
In 1928, Curtiss donated a separate plot of land two miles south of Opa-locka for Miami’s first Municipal Airport. The Curtiss School of Aeronautics was later moved from Biscayne Bay to this airport. A larger area east of Miami Municipal Airport was developed as All-American Airport in the 1930s. After Curtiss died in 1930, his estate deeded a tract of land north of the golf course and the Florida Aviation Camp to the city of Miami. The city later leased it to the United States Navy.
Curtiss had been advocating for the establishment of a Naval Reserve Base in Miami since 1928, and the land became the Naval Reserve Aviation Training Base (NRATB), which was later converted into an operating base called Naval Air Station Miami. The base was very busy during World War II and the main base and several additional auxiliary airfields saw military construction in the general area. Many of these constructions are still in existence today. During the operation of the base, training in fighter, dive-bomber and torpedo-bomber skills was conducted. The Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter, the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber, the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber and the Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter were some of the facility’s aircraft. In addition to serving as the 7th Marine District’s headquarters, the base supported a naval air artillery school, a Marine Corps Air Force Base, a Coast Guard Station and a small boat training center. The peak number was 7,200 officers and men and 3,100 civilian employees in 1945.
Following World War II, NAS Miami returned to its previous role and continued to be used as a flying base for the Navy and Air Force Reserves. However, in 1958 and 1959, with the relocation of Marine Air Reserve squadrons and support units to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, MCAS Miami was closed. In 1961, most of the area was transferred to Dade County and Dade County Junior College opened in the area. In 1962, the remainder of the area was transferred to Dade County, with a portion set aside by the US Coast Guard for the creation of a new coast guard air station and named Opa-locka Airport. However, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, part of the old airbase was again claimed by the US Department of Defense and used as an additional base for US strike forces. However, the crisis was resolved through diplomatic means and the airport was never used as a strike base against Soviet and Cuban forces.
Opa-locka Airport opened in 1928 as Miami’s first Municipal Airport and the Curtiss School of Aviation moved there. A larger field, later named All-American Airport, was developed east of the airport in the 1930s. After Curtiss’ death, Curtiss’ estate deeded a tract of land north of the golf course to the city of Miami, along with the Florida Aviation Camp. The city leased it to the US Navy. In 1945, the facility had a peak staff of 7,200 officers and men and 3,100 civilian employees.
After the war, the facility continued to serve as a former Naval Air Reserve and Marine Corps Air Reserve facility. However, with the transfer of Marine Air Reserve squadrons and support units to Naval Air Station Jacksonville in 1958 and 1959, Master Field was renamed Marine Corps Air Station Miami (MCAS Miami). Before MCAS Miami was closed as a Marine Corps installation in 1959, many former military properties were transferred to Dade County, and Dade County Junior College opened there in 1961. In 1962, much of the former air station was requisitioned for use as an additional staging base for American counterattack forces, and it was developed to support US Air Force and Navy bases. However, the crisis was overcome through diplomatic means and the airfield was not used as a base of attack against Soviet and Cuban forces.
Coast Guard Air Station Miami moved its aircraft and operations from the Dinner Key hydroplane loading dock to Opa-locka Airport in 1965. CGAS Miami still operates EADS HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft and MH-65 Dolphin helicopters. In 1963, Opa-locka was the 42nd busiest civil airport in the country in terms of total operations. In 1979, it was the seventh busiest airport in the country with 551,873 operations. Pablo Escobar is known to have shipped drugs here, and some of the 9/11 hijackers trained here.
In 2014, the Miami-Dade County Commission decided to rename the airport “Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport” as part of a plan to include the name “Miami” in the names of all airports in the Miami area.
Miami travel guide
Miami is a city located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida, United States of America. The city is home to many tourist attractions, including beautiful beaches, colorful nightlife, arts and cultural events, sports organizations and amusement parks.
Miami Beach is one of the most popular destinations in the city for visitors. In this area, the seaside district, also known as South Beach, is located. Here, you can relax on the sandy beaches, take a walk or swim in the turquoise waters. There are also many colorful buildings, famous for their Art Deco architecture, as well as restaurants, bars, clubs and boutique shops.
Miami also has an area called Little Havana, which is a reflection of Cuban culture. Here you can enjoy delicious Cuban food accompanied by Latin music and participate in traditional Cuban activities such as cigarette making or dominoes. The area also has galleries and boutiques showcasing the works of local artists.
Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport transportation routes
It is possible to reach the city center from the airport thanks to the rail system lines between Miami Beach and Downtown areas. To do this, you need to take the “MetroRail” tram from the airport, travel 7 stations and then take the bus number 5100 at Dadeland. The journey takes about 40 minutes and the same line also stops at South Beach in Miami Beach.
There are also bus services between the airport and the city center. You can take lines 7, 42 and 150 from the buses departing from the terminal exits and reach the city center called “downtown” and Miami Beach. Lines 150 and 42 are express lines called “Metrobus” and it takes approximately 50 minutes to reach the city center.
It is also possible to reach the city by taxi from the airport, which is 15 kilometers from the city center, and there are offices of different car rental companies in the port.
