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Additional parking lot to open at Jacksonville International Airport, amid capacity closures

In recent weeks, we’ve seen on-and-off parking closures at the Jacksonville International Airport, because lots and garages have reached capacity. In response, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority is preparing to open up an additional lot that’s generally only used during the winter holidays.

The capacity closures have affected not only the hourly and daily parking options near the terminal, but one or both of the Economy lots. JAA Director of External Affairs Michael Stewart says there are several factors driving the high lot traffic, including the high flight travel volume.

“Rapid growth that we’ve had at the second half of last year and the beginning of this year,” he says.

While JAX can anticipate how many travelers will move through the airport each day, Stewart says it's hard to predict how many people may come with them to either drop them off at the security gate, or pick them up after a flight. Those visitors will generally use the Hourly Garage and Daily Garage near the terminal. There's an additional pressure on that area right now, though, because of major repairs and renovations taking place. Stewart says sections of two floors of the Hourly Garage are currently closed, as part of that project.

Seeing this high capacity, he says the JAA is planning to soon open Economy Lot 3 for daily use.

“We’re going to put that in to service to try to relieve some of the challenges on the existing Economy lots and the surface lot behind the Hourly Garage,” he says.

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Economy Lot 3 is generally used during Thanksgiving and the Christmas to New Year’s stretch. Stewart says they will open it for a daily rate- which is currently expected to be $5- and it will be served by the same shuttles that serve Economy Lot 1 and Economy Lot 2. Stewart estimates this will mean an additional 1,000 available spaces.

Photo Credit: Jacksonville International Airport

He says they expect to open the lot this month, potentially as early as next week. It will remain open as long as its needed.

“This will certainly get us there, and we’ll continue to monitor the situation to try to improve the situation for our travelers,” Stewart says.

While the construction is a factor in the parking capacity problems, the higher travel volume is a more lasting pressure. Stewart says travelers need to understand that arriving early should be their “new normal”.

“We have been used to, for years, getting here an hour before our flight, and getting through security pretty easy. If you’re parking, getting your first option. But now, that’s changed,” he says.

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He recommends getting to the airport at least two hours before your flight, so that you can secure parking and get through TSA. He says security lines tend to be longest between 5AM and 7AM, and 11AM and noon, so that could require more time. He further says Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to be busy at JAX, because those are peak days for low-cost carriers, so they typically see pressure on Economy lots then.

Stewart didn’t want to characterize the recent parking capacity issues as unusual, although he did say it’s the first time they’re even seeing capacity use of their valet option. Instead, he says it’s unpredictable. He says demand on JAX is growing, and they will continue to look at how to address that.