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  3. Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF): Runway, History, And Other Key Information
Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF): Runway, History, And Other Key Information

Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF): Runway, History, And Other Key Information

iconTuesday, Jun 16, 2026


Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (IATA Code: OPF) is regarded as the most exclusive gateway airport for private flights in all of South Florida. Located just 11 miles northeast of downtown Miami, OPF accommodates an estimated 404 daily flight operations and is considered one of America’s top business aviation airports. In contrast to Miami International Airport (MIA), which caters to the general public, Miami Executive Airport (TMB), and Miami Opa Locka Executive Airport are where the affluent, Fortune 500 executives, and other serious pilots choose to operate their aircraft.

What is Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport?

Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, which is known by the code name OPF or KOPF, is an airport jointly owned and managed by Miami-Dade County and the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Officially, the airport is recognized as a reliever airport that helps relieve some of the pressure from Miami International Airport by taking over flights that are not commercial in nature.

As opposed to commercial airports, there are no regular passenger terminals at OPF. Instead, FBOs are used in which passengers may take a flight in as little as 15-20 minutes from when they get into their vehicle to being airborne. In addition, there is no TSA screening queue nor any public address announcements since this is an entirely personalized experience.

Important Details

Feature

Description

Full Name

Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport

IATA / ICAO

OPF / KOPF

Location

Miami-Dade County, Florida

Distance from Downtown Miami

11 miles (18 km) north

Runways

3 (9L/27R, 9R/27L, 12/30)

Longest Runway

8,002 ft (Runway 9L/27R)

Airport Size

1,300+ acres

Owner / Operator

Miami-Dade County / Miami-Dade Aviation Department

Tower Hours

7:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Airspace Class

Class D (underlies MIA Class Bravo)

Primary Use

General aviation, business/private jets, cargo, Coast Guard

Historical Background of OPF

The airport can be traced back to 1927, when the famous aviator and businessman Glenn Curtiss established it as one of the components of his project to create a new town of Opa-locka. The city was planned in the spirit of stories of One Thousand and One Nights, with architect Clinton McKenzie responsible for creating it and designing the airport in the unique Moorish Revival style, featuring domes, minarets, and ornate arches.

Opa-locka is an abbreviated name for the Seminole name Opa-tisha-wocka-locka, which means "wooded hammock in a swamp". Initially, the airport was an airfield for the Florida Aviation Camp, surrounded by a golf field, an archery range, and Cook's Hammock, which was a collection of preserved oak trees. The first structure on the site was a fifty-foot-high Moorish tower. The man himself passed away in 1930, but his legacy lives on, since the airport is a National Historic District now.

OPF Runways

Some of the most remarkable features at OPF are its runways, and they are what make the airport capable of handling even large corporate jets and cargo planes.


Runway

Length

Width

Capability

9L/27R

8,002 ft

150 ft

One of the longest general aviation runways in the country, can accommodate all planes

9R/27L

6,004 ft

150 ft

Second runway used for landing; capable of landing all business jets

12/30

4,001 ft

100 ft

Does not intersect the other two runways; positioned between both; light aircraft


The first runway at OPF, which is 8,002 feet long, is able to accommodate even wide-body jets, such as the Boeing 747, making OPF different from any typical executive airport. The majority of executive airports feature runways only up to 6,000-7,000 feet long.

FBO Guide: Private Terminals at OPF

Since there are no commercial terminals at OPF, passenger and aircraft services are provided by FBOs. As of 2025–2026, OPF has five first-rate FBOs, each providing a unique experience.

Atlantic Aviation

One of the largest FBO networks in the private aviation industry, operating more than 70 locations in the United States. OPF, it offers 24/7 services that always maintain professionalism. Facilities offered include passenger lounges with offices and meeting spaces, crew lounges with lounge areas, complete ground handling, hangar space, fuel Jet-A and 100LL, de-icing, and ground power units.

Fontainebleau Aviation (a Skyservice Company)

One of the most luxurious FBO experiences in the South Florida region, operating for over three decades. At OPF, its airport lounge is spread over an area of 350,000 square feet and provides facilities such as an executive terminal, top-notch office facilities, premium vendor facilities, car rentals, catering services, passenger lounges and showers, and 24-hour operations. The best part about it is its direct affiliation with the prestigious Fontainebleau hotel chain, meaning that it has hotel-like amenities and service standards. It offers Jet-A, biofuel, hangar space, de-icing, and lavatory services.

Signature Flight Support

With a global FBO network that operates around-the-clock at OPF, Signature Flight Support offers secured hangars, executive lounges, private boarding areas, full fueling services, crew services, and high-end ground transportation coordination.

Embassair

With its latest addition of a luxurious FBO facility, Embassair boasts one of the finest V-shaped terminal designs for the airport. Its facilities include four private boarding lounges, sleep suites, electric vehicle charging stations, a crew fitness room, and a private U.S. Customs ramp.

Jet Aviation (launched late 2025)

Initially launching in late 2025 with completion by mid-2026, the new Jet Aviation FBO opened a state-of-the-art 27-acre facility with a 540,000-square-foot ramp area with two LEED Silver-certified hangars measuring 20,000 square feet each. It also provides on-site Customs and Border Protection, sustainable aviation fuel, and a private entrance. Being Jet Aviation's 12th FBO in the United States, the facility offers Swiss discretion and reliability to the city of Miami.

Services Offered at OPF

OPF is an all-in-one aviation center. This is what else the airport provides aside from FBO facilities:

Aviation Services

  • Aircraft maintenance services for airframe, powerplant, and avionics, including maintenance for wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 747

  • Availability of 100LL AVGAS and Jet A fuel at all FBOs

  • High-pressure and low-pressure oxygen, along with replacement bottles

  • Aircraft parking and hangar storage

Customs and Immigration

  • On-site U.S. Customs and Border Protection services (Landing Rights Airport)

  • Standard CBP operating hours: 9:00 AM – midnight every day; Embair and Jet Aviation also offer customs ramps

  • Accepts international flights without any customs delays

Military/Coast Guard

  • Coast Guard Air Station Miami, based out of OPF’s federally owned facilities, operates the busiest search and rescue unit in the country

  • Operating airspace is Class D and is located underneath the Class B airspace of MIA

No Landing Fees: OPF does not charge landing fees – a definite saving in costs for airlines flying regularly to Miami.

Cargo Services at OPF

OPF is not only a private aircraft terminal but also hosts operations for various specialized cargo airlines, like:

  • Air Freight Capital

  • Conquest Air Cargo

  • Florida Air Cargo

  • Miami Air Lease

  • Ultra Aviation Services

The above cargo activity, together with the long 8,002 ft runway, ensures that OPF becomes a viable operational facility for freight carriers who wish to operate out of Miami while being exempt from the slot regulations of MIA.

How To Get To And From OPF

OPF enjoys good land transport connectivity with the rest of South Florida, in keeping with its focus on private air services.

By Vehicle / Ride-Sharing

  • Easy access via I-95 and I-75, allowing travel to all parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties

  • All ridesharing platforms are operational here; FBOs offer chauffeur-driven cars upon request

Close Proximity to Major Locations

  • Destination

  • Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins)

  • Downtown Miami

  • Miami Beach

  • Bal Harbour / Sunny Isles Beach

  • Miami International Airport (MIA)

  • Fort Lauderdale

  • Marlins Park

Train Station: There is a train station at Opa-locka, which itself is an architectural wonder dating back to 1927. It is called the Opa-locka Tri-Rail station, and it travels north to Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.

Why Go With OPF Instead of MIA?

Private aircraft passengers don’t compete between OPF and MIA; their purposes are entirely different. This is how you know you want OPF:

  • Time and Effectiveness: From car to plane in just 15-20 minutes. No security checks, no long queues for check-in or boarding gates.

  • Security and Comfort: OPF doesn’t handle any commercial operations. No one will be on the FBO terminal except those traveling on the same private flight as you.

  • Geographic Advantage: Travelers going towards northern Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, Aventura, and the Hard Rock Stadium find OPF closer compared to MIA while avoiding the downtown traffic of Miami.

  • Airport Runways: The main airport runway of 8,002 feet long can handle almost all sorts of airplanes, including light single-engine, large-cabin ultra-long-range jets, and wide-body cargo aircraft.

  • Landing Fee Savings: An important savings for charter flights or aircraft departments that often come into Miami.

  • International Arrival: Having the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service on site allows international flights to land straight at OPF.

Conclusion

Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport is much more than a sideshow attraction to the busy Miami International facility. It is South Florida's premier private aviation facility – an historically significant airport, boasting top-of-the-line FBO facilities, some of the longest general aviation runway pavement in the nation, and access to all the great things about Miami. No matter whether you are coming in on a private jet chartered from elsewhere in the United States or abroad, conducting your own company operations, or even arriving from another country after clearing U.S. Customs, OPF has something for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IATA code of Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport?

The IATA code is OPF, and the ICAO code is KOPF.

Does OPF have a 24-hour operation?

FAA air traffic controllers work between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM. However, many of the FBOs have extended 24-hour operations such as those provided by Fontainebleau Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, and Signature Flight Support. Embassair has a private Customs ramp allowing overnight international arrivals as well.

Can an international flight land at OPF?

Yes, because OPF is a Landing Rights airport with a U.S. Customs & Border Protection facility on site. No transiting through MIA is required for international arrivals. Normal operation hours of CBP are from 9:00 am to midnight. However, custom arrangements can be made for FBO beyond these hours.

Does OPF charge landing fees?

No. There are no landing fees at OPF, which is a considerable benefit to regular users of private jets.

How long is the runway at OPF?

The main runway (9L/27R) is 8,002 feet in length and 150 feet wide – among the longest general aviation runways in the USA, able to accommodate any plane type.

How many FBOs does OPF have?

As of 2025-2026, five FBOs are operating at OPF: Atlantic Aviation, Fontainebleau Aviation, Signature Flight Support, Embassair, and Jet Aviation (opened in late 2025).

Is OPF close to Miami Beach?

Yes. OPF is about a 30-minute drive from Miami Beach and much nearer to its northern beach resorts, such as Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach, the destination for travelers arriving by private aircraft at the airport.

What military operations are located at OPF?

Coast Guard Air Station Miami is based on federal property at OPF, being the busiest U.S. Coast Guard air/sea rescue station, operating both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.




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