Amazon Air has reached an agreement with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to operate an air cargo hub at Jacksonville International Airport, with operations expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Plans call for Amazon to lease the 50,000-square-foot Air Cargo Building Four at 14200 Pecan Park Road for air cargo storage and processing, according to a Feb. 2 news release.
Launched in 2016, Amazon Air is the online shopping retailer’s dedicated cargo airline. Its network operates more than 100 aircraft delivering packages to more than 70 distribution centers nationwide, according to aboutamazon.com. Fleet aircraft include Boeing 737s, 767s and Airbus A330s.
The service was previously named Prime Air, and that branding remains on its planes and logo.
“This location represents the company’s first air cargo operation in Northeast Florida and will continue to grow and support Amazon’s current logistics and distribution network in Jacksonville,” Jacksonville Aviation Authority CEO Mark VanLoh said during the Feb. 2 meeting of the JAA board. “Amazon is one of the largest employers in Jacksonville, with several of their sort facilities on or near our four airports.”
The closest Amazon Air facility is in Tampa, where shipments are flown in and then trucked to Jacksonville, said Jay Cunio, JAA chief development officer. He said by adding an Amazon Air Hub in Jacksonville, delivery services to customers will likely be faster in Northeast Florida, at least for certain product lines.
Cunio said Amazon will occupy the entire building, which previously housed multiple tenants, including Emery Worldwide Airlines and Forward Air. JAA did not disclose the Amazon lease terms.
The deal had been under discussion for some time but moved forward once sufficient space became available at Jacksonville International Airport, Cunio said. Amazon will need to apply for permits before preparing the facility.
Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comments on job creation or community impact.
The Seattle-based company operates 12 facilities in Jacksonville. Amazon opened its first two local fulfillment centers in September 2017, followed by another in October 2017 at Cecil Commerce Center, aided by $26.7 million in city and state incentives tied to the creation of 2,700 jobs. Since then, the company has added a fulfillment center, two sortation centers, a heavy bulk freight center and several delivery stations.