JAX/JIA updates

[Steve]

American Airlines will fly nonstop to Phoenix starting on November 5, according to the airport. Service is on an A320.

Times are perfect IMO!

The flight will depart Phoenix at 5 p.m. MST, landing in Jacksonville at 10:01 p.m. EST.
The return flight will depart Jacksonville at 8 a.m. EST, arriving at Phoenix at 9:37 a.m. MST.

This is perfect for working a half day out west then flying home or flying out first thing from JAX and working a half day out there.....even if your final isn't PHX. That flight is great for connections.

Prediction - AA will have no issues fill the plane as long as competitively priced.
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jun/26/american-airlines-to-offer-nonstop-service-from-jacksonville-to-phoenix/

[thelakelander]

^SLC? Outside to University of Utah and the Morman church, what else is out there that would keep that route alive?

Just people connecting, mainly. It's a big hub out west for Delta so it really helps for more mid-sized cities. For example, Delta doesn't have a nonstop from Boise to Atlanta, and with only 1-2 a day from Jacksonville to MSP and DTW, it means going from Jacksonville to Boise is a 2 stop trip.

Now I recognize there aren't many people going to Boise, but even for big cities that do have flights from Atlanta having Salt Lake City as an option is really nice.

Gotcha. My nephew is a redshirt freshman Utes DB. I flew out there last year to visit. The airport is a good sized hub (even the part that is already complete). Very nice but be prepared to get your exercise walking through it lol.

[Charles Hunter]

^SLC? Outside to University of Utah and the Morman church, what else is out there that would keep that route alive?

A few (10 or 12?) years ago, I flew thru ATL to SLC and rented a car to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone. OK, that sort of trip won't sustain a route, but it does provide another reason to go to Salt Flats City (the Lake is drying up).

[WarDamJagFan]

If you want to get to Lake Tahoe, the best option is to fly into Reno and make the 1 hour drive from there. Flying Delta, I had to stop in Atlanta and SLC. 2 stops for a domestic flight suuucks. But, sometimes unavoidable. Also flew to SLC earlier this Winter because, well, one does not miss a ski season where snowfall records are being shattered. If you like the outdoors, there are a million things to do year-round in the surrounding areas of SLC. So yes, there's much more to do there besides Mormons and the University of Utah.

[jaxlongtimer]

^SLC? Outside to University of Utah and the Morman church, what else is out there that would keep that route alive?

A few (10 or 12?) years ago, I flew thru ATL to SLC and rented a car to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone. OK, that sort of trip won't sustain a route, but it does provide another reason to go to Salt Flats City (the Lake is drying up).

I did this exact same trip around the same time or so!  The drive was as wonderful as the destination, going by Bear Lake and taking in Jackson Hole, Ogden, Logan and a national forest or two along the way.

I don't mind driving several hours in places like that (hard to beat the western US for dramatic landscapes - especially for us native flatlanders in Florida) and it gives you a lot more options on airports.

P.S. San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose or Sacramento are not too bad a drive to Lake Tahoe.  Again, scenic routes exist to make it extra pleasant.

[Snaketoz]

Great news:  American has announced daily non-stop service to Phoenix beginning in Nov. 2023.  Also Breeze has announced service to Providence, RI.

[marcuscnelson]

Garage design contract to RS&H.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jul/25/jaa-board-to-vote-on-parking-garage-design-contract-to-rsh/

[JAX_ASD]

A second Southern Grounds location opened this week pre-security at the airport. Much larger than the one in Concourse A: https://flickr.com/photos/jaxairport/albums/72177720310017445

[marcuscnelson]

Daily Record article today about the various retail updates ongoing at the airport.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/aug/08/new-jacksonville-international-airport-offerings-bring-rebalance-local-flavor/

[marcuscnelson]

The JIA Community Redevelopment Area is being sunset after 30 years.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/aug/22/city-council-votes-to-terminate-jacksonville-international-airport-cra/

Here's the scoreboard, I guess:

The board also published its 2023 End of Term Report summarizing the history and accomplishments of the CRA and outlining how the blight conditions in place three decades ago are remediated and how the goals of the CRA plan have been met.

Publicly funded projects within the CRA completed include construction of the JIA South Access Road, the Interstate 95/Airport Road Interchange project and the widening of North Main Street and Duval Road.

Private development completed in the CRA cited in the report includes the expansion of Coach Leatherware, Majestic Realty Company, the development of several hotels, the River City Marketplace retail center, substantial growth within the Jacksonville International Tradeport and Amazon.com opening.

The report notes that the taxable value of land within the CRA boundary increased from $214.19 million in the 1995-96 tax year to $1.86 billion in 2022-23 and that a total of $173.1 million in tax increment revenue has been collected for use in meeting the CRA plan goals.

[marcuscnelson]

An update on attempts to bring a London flight to JAX:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/nov/13/direct-jax-london-flights-in-discussion-for-more-than-five-years/

[thelakelander]

Doesn't sound like anything will happen until someone puts money up on the table.

[jaxjags]

Does anyone know who put money on the table in Charleston SC. I could see a combo of state funds, tourism councils and possibly Boeing but would be curious to know their approach.

[Charles Hunter]

Does anyone know who put money on the table in Charleston SC. I could see a combo of state funds, tourism councils and possibly Boeing but would be curious to know their approach.

I don't see the state providing substantial funds, with several airports in Florida already providing direct service to Europe.

Doesn't the owner of the local football team also own a football (soccer) team in the UK? Maybe he has a few dollars waiting to be used.

[Jax_Developer]

Does anyone know who put money on the table in Charleston SC. I could see a combo of state funds, tourism councils and possibly Boeing but would be curious to know their approach.

That is a seasonal route. The issue is and always will be Gate Tolls at LHR.. that airport is very unique worldwide for how expensive (& difficult) it is to secure gates there. Could always try to utilize Gatwick but that becomes even more of a stretch. The problem for JIA will always be the proximity of ATL & MCO. We are extremely unique (in a bad way) for modern flight planning.