JAX Concourse B on Hold Due to Coronavirus Financial Impact on Air Travel

Plans have been put on hold for Jacksonville International Airport's third terminal due to loss of revenue from the coronavirus impact on air travel.

With less than 20 incoming and outgoing flights scheduled Tuesday vs. the pre-virus daily average of 100 a month ago, and daily passenger traffic plummeting from about 10,000 a day to 400, there's just no funds to build Concourse B.

"I can't give a timeline on that. We are working on that in the midst of a global phenomenon," Jacksonville Aviation Authority public relations manager Greg Willis said. "... If we get back to those 2019 passenger numbers, over 6 million, that's when we will be taking a good hard look at Concourse B."

JIA was listed as the second-fastest-growing airport in the nation in a passenger traffic study released in January on upgradedpoints.com, which had analyzed the numbers from 100 of the nation's largest airports. The study showed about a 16 percent jump in passengers at JIA from 2017 to 2018.

The growth saw numerous upgrades in the past decade or so, starting with Concourse A and C done in 2008 with 20 gates. Then came plans for the demolition of Concourse C, to be replaced by one with passenger amenities and six more gates by the end of 2022.

Tearing down the old Concourse B and upgrading the concrete surface for aircraft was done in 2009. Construction on the parking garages was completed recently as well. And plans were well along for the new Concourse B.

But the virus killed air travel worldwide. The airport last month decided to cut rates at its parking garage and adjacent lot, then shut down its satellite lots because no one was using them.

Willis said the airport authority is meeting with airlines to discuss the economic downturn. They are doing what they can until flights begin returning, he said.

The airport also is slated to get $28 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress in late March. That would help replace its missing revenue for about four months, Willis said.

"I think we will be able to weather it," Willis said.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549

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