Airport airline talks may have stalled, commissioner says

Talks to bring commercial flights to Treasure Coast International Airport may have broken down, St. Lucie County Commissioner Cathy Townsend said Wednesday.

Why it matters: Townsend has regularly provided optimistic timelines for an airline announcement, most recently saying in November it could be weeks away. Now she's striking a far more pessimistic tone.

What changed: At a December county commission meeting, Townsend blamed the 43 day government shutdown for delays in installing TSA equipment at the terminal. Deputy County Administrator Mayte Santamaria said TSA would likely finish in January or February, with flights starting in March.

"We're nowhere closer than we were then," Townsend told TCPalm Wednesday. "We're actually probably further behind."

Her complaints: Townsend voiced frustration with both staff and fellow commissioners.

• Staff sent comments back to at least one airline two weeks ago but received no response
• "We don't have an aggressive staff out there at the airport. They kind of just sit there and wait for things to come to them"
• Other commissioners rejected a hotel deal because "they weren't involved in making it happen"
• She no longer receives regular updates: "The staff is running the show"

County response: "At this time, there are no new updates. Ongoing discussions are continuing," county spokesperson Flynn Fidgeon said in an email. "Once an agreement is finalized and confirmed, details will be released."

The pattern: Townsend has missed multiple self imposed deadlines. In August 2024, she said flights would begin 120 days after FAA certification. The airport was certified in October 2024, putting the target in February 2025. In August 2025, she predicted service by November.

TSA is currently dealing with another funding freeze due to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown that started February 14.

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