Year in review: Jax airports see new flights, boom in construction 

Year in review: Jax airports see new flights, boom in construction (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Construction is taking off at Jacksonville International Airport, after airport leaders planted the seeds for work on several new facilities and businesses in 2024.

A variety of new facilities to increase JIA’s capacity are all moving forward.

The cornerstone of JIA’s expansion has been beginning construction on the long-awaited Concourse B, a three-level, 186,733-square-foot project with a price tag of $220 million.

The structure is set to have 118,000 square feet of second-floor space, a 20,000-square-foot mezzanine and ground-level enclosed space.

Balfour Beatty Construction LLC began work on the project earlier this year after the JAA board of directors ratified an award for the company in May.

The project is expected to be complete by Dec. 30, 2026.

With an influx of more space for passengers, JAA has also planned more space for their cars.

A permit for a $92 million third parking garage is under review by the city. Construction is planned for a six-level, reinforced concrete parking garage next to the existing six-level daily parking garage at the airport.

The new parking structure is set to be 151,009 square feet, according to site plans.

Balfour Beatty Construction LLC, is also working on this project.

An $8 million permit  for a new customs building is also under city review. Plans show the building would be a single-story, 59,672-square-foot building at 2155 Barnstormer Road.

JAA has also opened the door to new food options around JIA property. Chili’s reopened in August after an expansion was completed to increase seating at the restaurant by 50%.

Wawa plans to build a gas station and convenience store on JAA land outside the airport.

New businesses, facilities plan to grow at Cecil Airport, Craig Executive

Growth was in bloom at other airports in Jacksonville as well.

Hypersonic aircraft company Hermeus entered an agreement with JAA and broke ground on the site for its new facility at Cecil Airport earlier this year.

The city approved a permit for the construction of the new Boeing South Yard facility, a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for the U.S. Navy KC-46 aircraft at Cecil Airport.

And right nearby that site, Boeing also opened the doors to its MRO facility for the Navy’s P-8 multi-mission, maritime patrol aircraft and a 150,000 square-foot components facility.

At Craig Executive, Beta, an electric airplane company is planning to build an electric charging station for Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft, which will include a level two dual point car charger. 

The Vermont-based electric plan company is aiming to participate in the medical transport industry in the area.

New flights arrive in Jax

The Jacksonville airport also welcomed back international service and gained nearly a dozen new routes across the country.

On top of that, the airport welcomed Avelo Airlines, a new airline for Jacksonville, to its gates.

Avelo announced it plans to begin nonstop service to New Haven, Connecticut out of Jacksonville in February.

In May, Breeze Airways began service to San Diego, California; Portland, Maine; and Burlington, Vermont; from Jacksonville.

Breeze announced it would begin service to New Haven, Connecticut on February 6, 2025. 

Air Canada shared that its service is arriving in Jacksonville soon, with nonstop flights from Jacksonville International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport set to begin on May 22, 2025.

Allegiant Air began direct flights from Jacksonville to Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania and McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee in June.

The low-cost airline also announced new service out of Jacksonville to Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) in Ohio, Des Moines International Airport (DSM) in Iowa and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, Michigan would begin in May 2025.

Delta Air Lines announced it would begin nonstop service from Jacksonville to Austin, Texas in May of next year.