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Say hola, bonjour, and guten tag to the new International Airport set to bring beach-lovers the world over onto the brilliant white sands of Panama City Beach!

While gorgeous beaches, family attractions and stellar accommodations have long made Panama City Beach a popular drive destination, the addition of the Panama City – Bay County International Airport is expected to open the region to a worldwide audience and allow for lower travel fares and easier access for domestic and international visitors to enjoy Panama City Beach travel.

The state-of-the-art airport is being designed with multiple eco-conscious features and will be developed in conjunction with a massive nature preserve that will feature Florida’s largest expanse of undeveloped coastline and showcase the region’s phenomenal natural beauty.

The airport will also offer a 10,000 foot runway, the only one of this length in Northwest Florida. The length of the runway is designed to allow larger jets and commercial aircraft of any size to be able to land more easily, meaning more Panama City Beach flights. The airport is also expected to be the first to open in the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001.

“Travelers can look forward to better service and more competitive fares, as Panama City Beach becomes easily accessible from major domestic and international markets,” said Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The terminal is designed with the goal of being the nation’s first to achieve LEED

certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Among the environmentally sensitive features will be: rooftop louvers to admit sunlight, a state-of-the art storm water management system, sustainable materials and a landscaping plan requiring no supplemental irrigation. The terminal will also feature an interior courtyard and large glass window walls to showcase the natural surroundings and create a picturesque setting for visitors.

The airport is being developed hand in hand with a spectacular natural refuge that will showcase the undeveloped shorelines and picturesque beauty of the area. The West Bay Preservation Area will protect 40,000 acres of Bay, including 33 miles of undeveloped shoreline and 44 miles of tributaries and creeks.

The preserve will provide permanent protection for the area’s water quality, biodiversity and physical beauty. Locals in the area and people enjoying Panama City Beach travel will be able to enjoy hiking, bird-watching and fishing in the vast expanse.

Airport construction passed the 45 percent completion point in January 2009, and work continues. Click here for further updates on construction of the new airport and Panama City Beach news.