Aviation & Economic Development

American Magic Unveils Airport Mural as Pensacola Sailing Profile Grows

Mayor Reeves and American Magic COO Tyson Lamond marked a new baggage claim mural on Tuesday while sharing updates on workforce hiring, a SailGP partnership, and Breeze Airways’ expanding footprint at PNS.

A Mural, and More Than a Mural

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves joined American Magic COO Tyson Lamond and Airport Executive Director Matt Coughlin to unveil a new mural in the baggage claim area of Pensacola International Airport, created in partnership with local firm Aluma Designs. The installation sits across from the existing Blue Angels mural—a pairing Lamond called a fitting symbol of the city’s identity.

• “When I look across and see the Blue Angels on the other side of the baggage claim, I think that’s an amazing opportunity for both of us,” Lamond said. “Truly, when we’re out on the water and they’re flying, it feels like a really special location. I don’t think there are many locations in the world that could say they’ve got the Blue Angels and a high-performance sailing team out there.”

Mayor Reeves framed the installation as part of a broader strategy to build Pensacola’s identity as a premier sailing destination, making that identity visible to arriving visitors before they ever leave the airport.

• “If we’re already talking about becoming one of the largest sailing destinations, if not the most prominent, in the United States, then we have to be walking that walk,” Reeves said. “We have to make sure our visitors and our residents gain that awareness.”

American Magic funded the mural at its own expense. Illumina Designs, a Pensacola-based firm, worked in collaboration with American Magic, the airport, and the Mayor’s office on the artwork.

Reeves also used the occasion to highlight workforce development progress tied to the American Magic partnership—noting recent hires drawn from training pipelines at UWF, Pensacola State College, and Children’s Home Society.

• “This partnership also means local job growth,” Reeves said, “with local kids and local young people now having job opportunity in the talent pipeline with American Magic.”

Lamond: More Projects Than Expected

When asked whether American Magic was ahead of its original business plan, Lamond said the organization has surpassed what it projected even 14 months ago.

• “If you had asked us 14 months ago, would we have all these amazing projects in the building at the same time—there’s no way I would have thought we would have landed everything,” he said. “But it’s a good problem to have.”

Lamond outlined the organization’s current footprint:

• Composite manufacturing for aerospace and defense, with ongoing contract fulfillment underway
• America’s Cup sailing operations reactivated—the team was on the water two weeks ago and is scheduled back on Pensacola Bay this weekend with two boats
• A new SailGP partnership announced in New York with Rockwall Racing, signaling American Magic’s long-term commitment to the league
• Local workforce expansion, including international talent relocating to Pensacola for the first time

On the SailGP partnership specifically, Lamond acknowledged the question he anticipated from observers: why is an America’s Cup team investing in a rival league?

• “We believe in the league, and we believe in the long-term commitment the league has made to our organization and to Pensacola,” he said. “Meeting with all those teams and talking about the facility we have here—I think that was received really well. I really look forward to October and seeing all those teams coming out and sailing on Pensacola Bay.”

Airport Update: Breeze Airways Goes Daily

Reeves also used Tuesday’s press conference to announce a significant expansion by Breeze Airways at PNS:

• Daily nonstop service to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale begins July 1
• Memphis and Bentonville, Arkansas flights double from twice weekly to four times weekly
• Breeze is now a signatory airline at PNS, reflecting a longer-term commitment to the market
• Breeze has grown from two Tampa flights per week in mid-2024 to 31 weekly departures across seven markets

Coughlin explained what the signatory designation means in practical terms: rather than paying a 30% rate premium under a flexible short-term arrangement, Breeze has opted into a longer-term lease structure—trading flexibility for commitment.

• “Breeze has determined they want to be here in Pensacola,” Coughlin said. “They added 6,600 more seats into the Pensacola market this month alone compared to June a year ago.”

On the gap left by Spirit Airlines’ departure, Coughlin acknowledged PNS is running about 10% below the same month last year—roughly equal to Spirit’s former seat count—but said Breeze’s growth is already filling that void.

• “When you see them going daily in July, that’s going to pick right back up,” he said. “There’s a little bit of a gap, but I expect that to pick way back up come July.”

After the presser, airport staff shared with Inweekly that Frontier Airlines will also add a direct flight to Orlando in July.