The relatively short 5,076-foot-long (1,547 m) runway limits the maximum size of aircraft that can serve the airport, along with restricting the weight of flights departing.

[3] The main runway at Meacham Field was pressed into U.S. Army use after the Pearl Harbor attack, as well as into U.S. Navy use later in World War II as an alternative to the Trumbo Point seaplane base and the main Naval Air Station for fixed-wing and lighter-than-air (blimp) aircraft on Boca Chica Key.

National Airlines began flights to Miami in 1944 with Lockheed Lodestar twin prop aircraft,[6] although the airport did not have a paved runway until around 1956.

[8] In 1968, National began the first jet flights into Key West with Boeing 727-100s, providing nonstop service to Miami.

[10] In 1987, Eastern Airlines was operating daily mainline Boeing 727-100 jet service nonstop to Miami.

[11] By 1989, Piedmont Airlines was operating six nonstop flights a day to Miami with Fokker F28 Fellowship twin jets.

Piston engine twin prop aircraft flown by commuter air carriers serving Key West included the Douglas DC-3, Martin 4-0-4, and Piper Navajo.

American Eagle operated Saab 340 and ATR-72 propjets into the airport before introducing regional jet service in the 2010s.

[14][20]Gulfstream International Airlines also began service to Key West in the early 1990s with flights to Miami and Tampa.

The newer building includes an elevated roadway and houses ticketing, check-in, and the airport's security checkpoint.

[33] Parking for 300 vehicles is at ground level beneath the newer terminal—150 spaces for rental cars and 150 for the public.

[34] In the year ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 66,550 aircraft operations, averaging 182 per day: 55% general aviation, 34% airline, 10% air taxi, and <1% military.

[35][36] Allegiant, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines operate mainline jets into Key West, primarily the Airbus A319.

[40] American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express operate regional jets, including the CRJ700 and Embraer E-Jets.