A record number of passengers traveled through Jacksonville International Airport in 2023, with 7,446,084 people arriving or departing from the facility.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority announced Jan. 24 that the traffic rose 13% from 2022, surpassing the record of 7,186,639 set in 2019.
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic limited travel and traffic fell to 2.85 million. It rebounded to 5.04 million in 2021, 6.57 million in 2022 and 7.45 million in 2023.
“Northeast Florida is incredibly desirable as a place to visit and live, and our record airport traffic is a testament to that,” JAA CEO Mark VanLoh said in a news release. “Our team is focused on bringing the best experience to passengers, including faster security screening, more dining choices, and additional nonstop routes to the most popular destinations.”
With traffic returning, the airport is expanding. The JAA plans to start construction in July on Concourse B, which would add a six-gate concourse.
The airport has one main terminal with two concourses totaling 20 gates, comprising 10 each for Concourse A and Concourse C.
The estimated $300 million project was expected to start construction in 2023 and then revised to the summer of 2024 for completion by the end of 2026.
It’s not the first delay for the project — it was first planned to open in 2014-15.
“As one of the best mid-sized airports in the country, Jacksonville International Airport is an asset our community takes great pride in,” JAA board Chair Michelle Barnett said in the release.
“Anyone traveling through JAX can witness the investment we are making in the airport, through the improvements to the security area and the upcoming Concourse B addition. Our airport is one of the key reasons why Jacksonville is a great place to visit or do business.”
The airport also has been adding to its food options with an expanded Firehouse Subs, Southern Grounds & Co., adding Pura Bean Coffee to a larger Vino Volo and bringing in Angie’s Subs, planned for a grand opening in February.
In 2022, Breeze Airways begin service at JIA and offers nonstop service to Las Vegas and other destinations. Breeze announced Jan. 9 it will begin nonstop service to San Diego starting May 1.