Those traveling through Southwest Florida International Airport soon will have access to a c-store, gas station and fast food options as they arrive for their flights.  

GAZ Realty Inc., a developer and operator of Super-Station and Airport Plazas, won a contract to begin the design, construction and operation of an Airport Plaza at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, Fla.

The decision was made final by the Lee County Port Authority Board of Port Commissioners at the airport’s joint board meeting yesterday.

The Airport Plaza will be a commercial facility with services that may include: gas, diesel, biodiesel, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), convenience store, two-bay car wash, light auto repair, food court, off-premises dry cleaning and towing, all designed to service the needs of airport users.

No construction start date is scheduled as yet. The site will be at least four acres of a triangular, 11-acre parcel along the main entrance road of the airport.

“We’re excited about this project and look forward to working with the Lee County Port Authority to build a world-class Airport Plaza,” said George Abizeid, President & CEO of GAZ Realty, Inc., following the board decision.

In addition to this project, GAZ Realty is currently in the midst of construction of a Plaza at Newark Liberty International Airport scheduled to open June 2010. GAZ Realty has also received approvals to do similar projects at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Tulsa International Airport and is currently in final stages of negotiating with JFK International Airport.

Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 7.4 million passengers in 2009 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic.