27-02-2025
Why Trump's Palm Beach County visits are putting a financial strain on Lantana Airport
Palm Beach County Park Airport in Lantana is reeling from the temporary flight restrictions imposed when President Trump visits Mar-a-Lago. Planes cannot fly in or out of the airport, sandwiched between Atlantis and Lake Osborne Estates.
Twenty-five businesses are impacted, including multiple flight schools.
The airport, commonly referred to as Lantana Airport, is just 5 miles away from Mara-a-Lago. It employs 772 workers, has an annual payroll of $42 million and generates a local community impact of $42 million a year, according to a recent study undertaken by the Palm Beach County Department of Airports. More than 100,000 planes, most of them small ones, took off and landed at the airport in 2023.
When asked to detail presidential security impacts, the county Department of Airports' spokeswoman referred The Post to the local airport's fixed-base operator, Stellar Aviation. A spokesman there declined comment.
It's not clear exactly what the current financial losses are, but in 2017, the Washington, D.C.-based Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, acting on behalf of Lantana Airport, reported that the flight restrictions were decimating small businesses there, costing as much as $30,000 a day for a three-day presidential stay.
Stellar Aviation President Jonathan Miller estimated in 2018 that he'd lost $500,000 during Trump's visits, and that was early in Trump's term.
The financial losses are likely even higher for Trump's second term as costs have increased during the past eight years. Back then, Stellar Aviation said the impact threatened the survival of many of the businesses. Both the county and Stellar Aviation lose revenue from lost fuel sales, according to the county.
A banner-flying company reported a loss of contracts of $40,000 after three closings and a helicopter company relocated.
Assistant County Administrator Todd Bonlarron acknowledged that costs to county taxpayers will depend on how often the president visits Mar-a-Lago: the more visits, the greater the impact. As of Feb. 22, Trump had already spent 10 days at Mar-a-Lago during the month, including a six-day stint from Feb. 14-19. And he is expected to return this weekend as well.
About 100 small jets, including Lears and Cessnas, use the airport annually.
Military aircraft enforce the flight restrictions. The Palm Beach Post reported that the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, confirmed there were three airspace violations of the imposed presidential protected space during Trump's six-day visit to Mar-a-Lago in February. Two occurred on Feb. 15 and one on Presidents Day, Feb. 17.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@ Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lantana Airport grounded when President Donald Trump visits Mar-a-Lago
