Upgraded jet center opens at TCIA

The APP Jet Center’s renovation includes a comfortable waiting area. MAUREEN SALTZER

FORT PIERCE — APP Jet Center has opened a newly remodeled fixed-base operator facility at Treasure Coast International Airport, a project company and local officials say is part of a broader push to expand business aviation activity in St. Lucie County.

The upgraded facility, known in aviation as an FBO, serves private and business aircraft and includes improved passenger and crew amenities. The airport in Fort Pierce has increasingly positioned itself as an alternative to more congested South Florida airports, particularly for corporate and international travelers arriving from the Bahamas and Caribbean.

APP Jet Center CEO Dan Harrow said the company sees Treasure Coast International as both a regional gateway and a practical option for travelers seeking to avoid delays common at larger commercial airports.

The renovation follows a series of investments APP Jet Center has made at the airport over the past two years, including new hangar development and improvements to the terminal area. In 2024, the company announced expansion plans that included about 30,000 square feet of hangar space and upgrades to the FBO building and surrounding site.

St. Lucie County Commissioner Cathy Townsend said the updated facility, along with recent airport improvements, is helping reshape the airport’s image and visitor experience. Wes McCurry, president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, said the airport investments are expected to generate long-term economic benefits for the area.

Treasure Coast International Airport, formerly known as St. Lucie County International Airport, is a general aviation airport that also houses U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a feature that has helped make it a popular stop for international private aircraft. County officials have promoted the airport as a key economic development asset, with room for aviation-related business growth.

The remodeled APP Jet Center facility marks another step in that strategy as Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County continue investing in aviation infrastructure and business recruitment.