Jacksonville International Airport

What Jacksonville International Airport does

Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) is a body politic and corporate, an agency and political subdivision of the State of Florida, created in 2004 to own and operate the Jacksonville Airport System. The system comprises four airports: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), the primary commercial service facility serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia; Cecil Airport (VQQ), an industrial and aerospace complex hosting Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Flightstar, and Aevum and housing the 8th licensed commercial spaceport in the U.S. (the first FAA-licensed horizontal-launch spaceport on the East Coast); Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport (JAXEX/CRG) for corporate and general aviation; and Herlong Recreational Airport (HEG). Underlying technology is conventional airport infrastructure — TSA security checkpoints, flight information displays, baggage handling, passenger processing systems, free in-terminal WiFi branded 'JAX-Free-Wifi,' and integrations with Waze, ChargerBack, and accessibility tooling — with no proprietary AI/ML layer disclosed.

JAA is user-supported and receives no general tax dollars. Revenue is generated across six streams on a usage-based and concession-fee basis: airport user fees charged to airlines, concessionaires, vehicle parkers, and land tenants; tiered parking ($8 economy through $30 valet, five distinct product tiers); retail and food concessions under a 'Street Pricing Plus 10' policy operated by HMSHost and Paradies Lagardère; car rental concessions (nine on-airport brands); ground transportation fees collected from Lyft, Uber, taxi, and shuttle operators; and recurring property and land leases including industrial tenants at Cecil. The authority is overseen by a seven-member board (three appointed by Jacksonville's mayor, four by Florida's governor) and is led by CEO Mark VanLoh (since 2018), CFO Ross Jones, and COO Tony Cugno.

Strategic posture is expansion-led: a record 7.6 million passengers in 2024, multiple new nonstop route launches in 2024-2025 across Delta, Southwest, Allegiant, Breeze, and Avelo, the addition of Amazon Air cargo operations in February 2026, ongoing Cecil Spaceport development (new operations center and air traffic control tower, plus a planned FAA reentry license), $27M and $12M hangar builds at Cecil, and a $230M bond issuance in 2026 financing Concourse B — the first public debt issuance in nearly 20 years — supported by Moody's A1, S&P A, and KBRA AA credit ratings. The system contributes approximately $6 billion annually to the regional economy and supports nearly 30,000 jobs.

Name

Jacksonville International Airport

Legal name

Jacksonville Aviation Authority

Website

https://flyjacksonville.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Jacksonville Aviation Authority operates Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and three regional airports serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, providing commercial passenger aviation, air cargo, general aviation, and commercial spaceport services to travelers, airlines, businesses, and aerospace operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Airport Operations

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

Keywords

• Commercial airport operations
• Passenger terminal services
• Airport parking facilities
• Aviation infrastructure management
• Commercial spaceport operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airport User Fees: JAA is user-supported and receives no general tax dollars. All users of JAA's four airports are charged fees, including airlines, concessionaires, vehicle parkers, and companies that lease land and buildings.
2. Parking Operations: Revenue from hourly garage, daily garage, daily surface lot, economy lots, and valet parking services.
3. Retail and Food Concessions: Revenue from retail shops and restaurants operating in the terminal under concession agreements. Pricing is governed by 'Street Pricing Plus 10' policy.
4. Car Rental Concessions: On-airport car rental agencies including Alamo, National, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, SIXT, and Thrifty operating under concession agreements.
5. Ground Transportation Fees: Fees collected from TNC operators (Lyft, Uber) and taxi/limousine/shuttle services operating at the airport.
6. Property and Land Leases: Revenue from companies leasing land and buildings at all four airports managed by JAA, including industrial tenants at Cecil Airport and aviation-related businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA), provides commercial aviation terminal services for travelers and airlines in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Core offerings include airline gate and passenger processing operations, multi-tier airport parking (Hourly Garage, Daily Garage, Daily Surface Lot, Economy Lots, and Valet), terminal retail and dining concessions, on-airport car rental services, ground transportation coordination, and customer amenities such as free WiFi and an Ambassador Program. The four-airport system also includes Cecil Airport's commercial spaceport for horizontal-launch spacecraft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JAX PAWS: Canine Interaction Program at Jacksonville International Airport
• JAX Passport
• JAX Beyond
• JAX Airport Live

Products and services

• Airport Parking (Hourly Garage, Daily Garage, Daily Surface Lot, Economy Lots, Valet)

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.6 million passengers served in 2024 - all-time record
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aevum Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Aerospace contractor awarded $4.9 million contract from Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center to launch small satellites to low earth orbit from Cecil Spaceport. Developed world's largest unmanned aircraft system for space launch.
• Generation OrbitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Space launch contractor working on projects at Cecil Spaceport since 2014. Conducted X-60A engine testing at the facility in January 2020.
• Lyft, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLyft is authorized to provide pick-up services at JAX. Passengers can request rides from designated areas on the terminal curbside. Airport fees apply to pick-ups only.
• Rasier-DC, LLC (Uber)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUber operating as Rasier-DC, LLC is authorized to provide pick-up services at JAX. Passengers can request rides once located on terminal curbside.
• HMSHostcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal restaurateur and world leader in creating dining for travel venues. Operates multiple dining locations at JAX including Shula's Bar & Grill, Starbucks, Southern Grounds, and PGA Tour Grill. Second Southern Grounds location opened August 2023.
• Paradies LagardèrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail concession operator at JAX operating Amelia Island Marketplace, CNBC News Stand, PGA Tour Shop, and River City Travel Mart. Partnership has been contested by Airport Worker Union citing performance and labor concerns (November 2025).
• Alamo/National Car RentalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-airport car rental located in baggage claim area with hundreds of vehicles available without shuttle service.
• Enterprise Rent-A-CarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-airport car rental services located in baggage claim area.
• Hertz Rent-A-CarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-airport car rental services located in baggage claim area.
• Avis Budget GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-airport car rental services operating both Avis and Budget brands.
• Dollar/ThriftyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-airport car rental services operating both Dollar and Thrifty brands.
• SIXT Rent-A-CarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-airport car rental services.
• Space FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState of Florida's aerospace development authority partnering on Cecil Spaceport development and spaceflight operations.
• Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency combining forces with Space Florida and FAA to cover costs for spaceport operations center ($1.8M) and air traffic control tower ($7M).
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal regulatory agency providing oversight for Cecil Spaceport licensing and operations. Partnership with FDOT and Space Florida for spaceport infrastructure funding.
• zTripminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-demand transportation services provider operating at JAX. Located at taxi/limousine booth in ground transportation area.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): Larger Florida gateway operated by the Broward County Aviation Administration. Directly competes with JAX for airline route allocations into Florida and shares a ULCC-heavy carrier mix. Larger scale and broader route map but comparable governance and revenue structure.
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT): Major Southeast hub operated by the City of Charlotte Aviation Department. Similar user-fee authority structure and reliance on passenger enplanements; larger hub status provides blueprint for capacity expansion. Compares on governance model and bond financing approach.
• Allegheny County Airport Authority (Pittsburgh PIT): Independent airport authority operating a comparable mid-sized commercial hub. Compares on governance (independent authority model), debt issuance, and concession-driven revenue mix similar to JAX.

Direct peers

• Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC): Mid-sized non-hub commercial service airport with similar passenger volume and single-terminal operating model. Useful direct comparison for medium-hub operating economics and ACI customer service benchmarks.
• Tampa International Airport (TPA): Florida commercial service airport operated by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. Competes for intra-Florida O&D traffic, uses similar aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue mix, and issues public debt for terminal expansion - one of JAA's closest functional comparables.
• Orlando International Airport (MCO): Florida medium-to-large hub airport operated by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. Closest direct comparator in terms of mid-sized regional gateway, mixed passenger/cargo profile, and user-fee revenue model with state-authority governance.

Emerging players

• Spaceport America (New Mexico): State-operated commercial spaceport with similar horizontal-launch positioning to Cecil. Comparable on FAA spaceport licensing trajectory, state-federal cost-sharing model, and dependence on a small number of anchor tenants.

Regional players

• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV): Coastal Southeast regional airport that overlaps JAX's Southeast Georgia service area. Compares on regional passenger scale, similar state-authority governance, and overlapping catchment population in coastal Georgia.
• Pensacola International Airport (PNS): Florida Panhandle commercial service airport comparable in hub size and O&D focus. Useful peer for benchmarking medium-hub traffic growth and concession revenue per enplanement.

Others

• Cape Canaveral Space Force Station / Space Florida: Not-for-profit aerospace financing and development authority operating Florida's space launch infrastructure. Peer to JAA only on Cecil Spaceport operations; provides reference for spaceport business models and federal/state partnership structures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JAXairport
• Facebookfacebook.com/flyjacksonville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jaa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jacksonville International Airport