With new flight services, Gulf Shores looks to skies to bring tourists to Alabama beaches

Jack Edwards National Airport

Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, Ala., on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2019. Plans are underway to construct an $8 million to $10 million terminal to welcome commercial air service within the next two years. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

People in and around the Gulf Shores area will soon be able to take flights to select airports in the Southeast thanks to carrier Ultimate Air Shuttle.

Jay Taffet, founder of Southeast Beach Express, told The Advocate that the airline was founded to provide quicker access to Alabama’s beaches. In 2018, nearly 6.6 million people visited the beaches and almost all of them drove there.

Only 7% came by air, according to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. Currently, the airport has a goal of trying to establish commercial airline service within the next two years. Last year, Jack Edwards Airport manager Scott Fuller said that finding airlines that have even heard of Gulf Shores has been complicated, but the arrival of the new charter service could mean that brighter days are ahead.

Beginning in June, the company will offer flights from Gulf Shores’ Jack Edwards Airport four days a week, with prices beginning at $245, according to their Facebook page.
From Gulf Shores, you’ll be able to travel to Atlanta after landing at Cobb County’s McCollum Airport, Nashville after landing at John C. Tune Airport and Baton Rouge after landing at Baton Rouge Metro Airport.
According to the company’s Facebook, here is the complete “South Beach Express” flight schedule which will operate every Thursday through Sunday:
  • Gulf Shores to Atlanta
    • Depart: 9:30 a.m. (CST)
    • Arrive: 11:35 a.m. (EST)
  • Atlanta to Gulf Shores
    • Depart: 12:20 p.m. (EST)
    • Arrive: 12:25 p.m. (CST)
  • Gulf Shores to Nashville
    • Depart: 1:10 p.m.
    • Arrive: 2:35 p.m.
  • Nashville to Gulf Shores
    • Depart: 3:20 p.m.
    • Arrive: 4:45 p.m.
  • Gulf Shores to Baton Rouge
    • Depart: 5:30 p.m.
    • Arrive: 6:20 p.m.
  • Baton Rouge to Gulf Shores
    • Depart: 7:05 p.m.
    • Arrive: 7:55 p.m.

This new service is just one of many that could be taking place at Gulf Shores’ airport in the future. The airport was one of three in Alabama to apply for a federal grant from the Department of Transportation in order to expand their commercial flight services.

Taffet told The Advocate that while the flights are set to end in late September, service could be extended beyond that time if there’s demand for it.