Story ID: 
New FBO Opens in Florida Keys
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Marathon Aviation, the lone service provider at Marathon International Airport in the Florida Keys, has opened its new FBO and hangar complex.
Word Count: 226
Marathon Aviation, the lone service provider at Marathon International Airport in the Florida Keys, has opened its new FBO and hangar complex on the west end of the field. The company broke ground a year ago on the facility that replaces the one destroyed by 2017’s Hurricane Irma.

The Avfuel-branded facility, which features a 3,000-sq-ft, two-story Key West-style terminal, was built to the latest hurricane standards, with a second-floor verandah, pilots lounge, shower facilities, 10-seat A/V-equipped conference room, a café, and a spacious kitchen. A 12,000-sq-ft hangar with 28-foot-high doors can accommodate aircraft up to a Gulfstream G650.

Marathon's new facility caters to larger turbine-powered business aircraft and is available 24/7, with expedited customs service and concierge support. A separate facility owned by the same company located at the eastern end of the 5,000-foot runway handles smaller general aviation piston aircraft.

“The Marathon Aviation team is thrilled to welcome guests to our iconic new FBO, providing a fully immersive, luxury Middle Keys experience,” said company owner Marty Hiller. “As a launchpad for U.S. Customs and a gateway for the region’s tourism, five-star resorts, and world-renowned fishing industry, we’re proud to unveil this investment in the local community, economy, and our customers ahead of the busy winter season.”