PANAMA CITY - Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, the first commercial international airport to be built in the U.S. in past 15 years, begins operations May 23.

To celebrate this historic event, a ribbon-cutting grand opening celebration will be held May 22 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public, and will feature live music, F-15 flyover, speeches and the arrival of the first Southwest Airlines plane.

Speakers include Gov. Charlie Crist, Sen. Bill Nelson, Congressman Allen Boyd, Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill, Bob Montgomery, Southwest Airlines Vice President ? Properties, and Britt Greene, Chief Executive Officer of The St. Joe Company.