The company has also offered to donate about 40,000 acres (160 km²) for preservation. The project attracted quite a bit of opposition, including taxpayer and environmental groups who pointed out that the current airport was operating at only half its capacity—with 12 outbound flights a day— and argues that the new facility would primarily benefit one developer, at taxpayer expense. The new airport was approved and construction began in 2009 on donated by St. Joe. The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport opened on May 23, 2010, northwest of Panama City.