Flights to Fort Lauderdale: FLL Airport Guide, Terminals, Arrivals, Airport Map, and Nearby Airports
On This Page:
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
- Flights to Fort Lauderdale From Across the U.S. and Canada
- Which Terminal Does Each Airline Fly To?
- Choosing Your Best Flights to Fort Lauderdale
- Now That Your Flights and Rental Car Are Booked, Where Should You Stay?
- 1. SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport
- 2. Maritime Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruiseport
- 3. avid hotel - Ft Lauderdale Airport - Cruise by IHG
- 4. Tru By Hilton Ft Lauderdale Airport
- 5. Hotel Dello Ft Lauderdale Airport, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- 6. Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
- There’s Nothing Better Than a South Florida Getaway to Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
South Florida’s Most Convenient Airport
You’re not alone if you immediately think of Miami International Airport (MIA) if you are planning a flight to South Florida. MIA is the airport for Miami and all of South Florida, right? Well, not quite. While MIA is the second busiest U.S. airport for international travelers, is served by 90 airlines, and is the top origination point for travelers heading from the mainland to Latin America and the Caribbean, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) airport is our preferred arrival point in the region for a number of reasons. If you are arriving on a domestic flight or from Canada, FLL is definitely the way to go. Here’s why.
- FLL is comprised of four terminals with a total of 67 gates. A fifth terminal is slated to open later this year, but the terminals are far smaller than the behemoth of MIA with 131 gates. Walks are shorter at FLL, and with as few as nine and no more than 24 gates in each terminal, the more relaxed atmosphere at FLL is much appreciated by travelers who have previously experienced MIA’s hectic vibe.
- Airfares and nearby airport hotels are often less expensive at Fort Lauderdale International, and there is greater access to more low fare carriers here. Miami International is home to a major American Airlines hub which generally leads to more expensive flights. There are lower fare options at MIA from Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, and others, but more carriers known for attracting budget travelers serve FLL. With Spirit’s recent financial difficulties several competitors are beefing up their service at FLL, with JetBlue noticeably increasing its offerings. Allegiant Airlines, Avelo, and Breeze serve FLL, but not MIA.
- Geographically, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is more centrally located than MIA in this region of more than six million residents. The Port Everglades Cruise Terminal is no more than 15 minutes away (except during rush hour). Broward County, which operates FLL, is home to more than two and a half million of the local population, so popular destinations including Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Hollywood Beach, Dania Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea are all within 15-20 minutes of the airport. Even popular vacation areas north of Fort Lauderdale including West Palm Beach, which has its own airline-served airport, can be easily reached from FLL (46 miles), Delray Beach (33 miles), Boca Raton (25 miles), and Deerfield Beach (22 miles) are much closer to FLL than MIA.
Author: Matthew Turner
Wide view of Chicago airport terminal showcasing architecture and check-in counters. Flags and signages add vibrant detail. More info Share
Flights to Fort Lauderdale From Across the U.S. and Canada
If the option of utilizing Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for your South Florida vacation is new to you, it isn’t to the more than 32 million air travelers who flew via this airport in 2025. Comparatively, Miami International served 56 million passengers, 25 million who were traveling internationally. Most of FLL’s travelers are from the U.S. and Canada, though there are some exceptions.
It comes as no surprise that nearly 100 million people annually arrive by air to the 100 mile stretch of South Florida from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and northward to West Palm Beach. The wide sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, amazing boating opportunities on the Intracoastal Waterway, brilliant sunshine, and year-round warm temperatures are a magnet for visitors from across North America.
Flight time to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is around three hours from major northern cities including New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Chicago, and just 30-45 minutes longer from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montreal, and Boston. Even closer at just two and half hours by air are Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, and Washington, D.C., all of which offer several daily flights direct to FLL.
There’s plenty of competition between the many airlines which serve FLL, with JetBlue, Delta, and Spirit currently offering the most flights. This helps to keep airfares lower than at MIA and gives travelers the option to fly in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Daily airport operations average a combined 700 arrivals and departures serving 135 destinations directly. Travelers who favor the major carriers including American, Delta, United, Alaska, and Southwest have many flight options to consider to their major hubs and beyond.
- Alaska Airlines /1 from San Diego (SAN), 1 from Seattle (SEA), 1 from Portland, OR (PDX).
- American Airlines/6 from Charlotte (CLT), 5 from Philadelphia (PHL), 3 from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), 6 from Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW).
- Delta Airlines/13 daily flights to Atlanta (ATL), 6 from Detroit (DTW), 3 from Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), 1 from Salt Lake City (SLC), 2 from Seattle (SEA), 1 from Los Angeles (LAX), 5 from New York (JFK), 5 from New York (LGA), 3 from Boston (BOS).
- JetBlue/7 from Boston Logan (BOS), 7 from New York (JFK).
- Southwest Airlines/5 from Baltimore/Washington (BWI), 3 from Chicago Midway (MDW), 1 from Denver (DEN), 1 from Austin (AUS), 2 from Houston Hobby (HOU), 2 from Dallas Love (DAL), 1 from New Orleans (MSY).
- Spirit Airlines/Frequent, but not daily flights from Atlanta (ATL), Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Newark/New York (EWR), and New York (LGA).
- United Airlines/8 from Newark/New York (EWR), 4 from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), 3 from Denver (DEN), 2 from San Francisco (SFO).
Domestic service is also offered by Allegiant Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines which is in the process of being acquired by Allegiant. These airlines are more often used by travelers whose top priority is finding a cheaper airfare, with the schedule and inflight amenities being less important.
International flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport include service by five Canadian carriers, Air Canada, Air Transat, Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines, and WestJet. Other foreign flag carriers include Avianca from Colombia, Azul Brazilian, BahamasAir, BermudaAir, Caribbean, Copa, Sunrise, and seasonal service via El Al.
Author: Eric Prouzet
Stunning view of a colorful mansion with palm trees by the water in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. More info Share
Which Terminal Does Each Airline Fly To?
With Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport having four terminals, it’s especially important to know which one you will be flying to, and from. If you are being picked up upon arrival, dropped off on your day of departure, or returning a rental car, knowing your terminal in advance is critical information. Be aware that the Rental Car Center at FLL houses 12 major companies and is location next to Terminal 1. A free shuttle bus provides convenient transportation from Terminals 2, 3 and 4.
Terminal 1
Also known as the Yellow Terminal, airlines operating here are Alaska, Allegiant, Avianca, BahamasAir, Frontier, Southwest, and United.
Terminal 2
Air Canada, WestJet, and Delta Air Lines use the Red Terminal primarily.
Terminal 3
Airlines utilizing the Purple Terminal are American, Avelo, Azul Brazilian, BermudaAir, El Al, Flair, JetBlue, Porter, and Sun Country.
Terminal 4
The Green Terminal is primarily used for JetBlue’s international flights to the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as Air Transat, Flair, and Porter to Canada. It is also the terminal for all of Spirit Airlines flights.
Author: Diego F. Parra
Young girl in colorful dress walking on beach, holding hat. Summer vacation vibe.
Choosing Your Best Flights to Fort Lauderdale
We always recommend booking your air travel with a major credit card just in cast an airline stops serving your particular market or ceases operations. Be aware that while they are currently still flying, Spirit Airlines has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice in the last year and a half, so you may feel more comfortable booking with a more financially stable airline. (I would!)
There are plenty of deals to be had with the larger airlines if you prefer to fly with a name brand carrier. Each of the major U.S. airlines offers cheaper economy class fares to compete with the low fare carriers, but there are certain restrictions they each have that you should be aware of before making a final decision.
The lowest major carrier fares, often termed “basic” or “economy basic”, are non-refundable, non-changeable or only with added fees, do not award frequent flyer miles, and do not allow choosing your seat assignment until check in time which is typically 24 hours prior to departure. But, if you want to save money, fly with a carrier you are familiar with, and don’t really care where your seat is on the aircraft, this may be your best way to go.
Now That Your Flights and Rental Car Are Booked, Where Should You Stay?
If this is your first time visiting South Florida or your previous hotel didn’t meet your expectations, do what we always do and log-on to what we feel is the most complete and competitively priced hotel booking website, Travelated. We found this site a few years ago and it continues to meet and exceed our expectations no matter where we’re traveling in the world. There are dozens of hotels for you to consider here, ranging from more affordable properties away from the beach but still plenty close, to luxurious accommodations with the Atlantic Ocean beach just steps away.
If you happen to be arriving late at night or departing early in the morning and are looking for a place to stay close to the airport, here are some of our recommendations. All of these hotels offer a FREE airport shuttle service. There are many more choices on the Travelated website.
2. Maritime Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruiseport
Address: 2161 Maritime Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, 33312, FL, US
Maritime Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruiseport, rated four stars.
3. avid hotel - Ft Lauderdale Airport - Cruise by IHG
Address: 3001 Sw 26th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, 33312, FL, US
avid hotel by IHG – Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise, rated three stars.
5. Hotel Dello Ft Lauderdale Airport, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Address: 28 South Federal Highway, Dania, 33004, FL, US
Hello Dello Ft. Lauderdale Airport -Tapestry Collection by Hilton, rated three stars.
6. Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
Address: 501 Se 24th Street, Fort Lauderdale, 33316, FL, US
Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port, rated four stars.
There’s Nothing Better Than a South Florida Getaway to Fort Lauderdale
If you are planning a getaway to the Sunshine State, Fort Lauderdale should be on your short list of where to go. In fact, we can’t think of a better place to go for spectacular golden beaches, the Atlantic Ocean surf, Intracoastal Waterway boating, touring the amazing Everglades, and dining on perhaps the best seafood you have ever experienced. Palm trees, major league sports, astounding sunrises, and a lively nightlife will make your visit to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood-Pompano Beach area every more enjoyable.
