JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Just in time for the holiday travel rush, Jacksonville International Airport’s new $108 million daily parking garage opened to drivers Tuesday, easing strain on surrounding garages that are often full.
The first drivers parked in the new garage and headed for their flights Tuesday.
“Instead of a Thanksgiving crush like we had last year, it will be a Thanksgiving rush,” said Mark VanLoh, CEO of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
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Officials cut the ribbon with a pair of oversized scissors, and the ceremony was over in about two minutes. JAA COO Tony Cugno was the first driver to park in the garage, arriving in his convertible.
“The total for this garage is $108 million,” VanLoh said.
The garage adds 2,000 spaces to the airport’s existing 10,000, which VanLoh said will sustain the airport for the next decade.
The entire first floor is reserved for rental cars, so those drivers won’t need a shuttle. Parking costs up to $22 per day, and the garage provides access to the upcoming Concourse B.
A light system helps drivers find spots: green indicates an open space, and red indicates a space is full. That will be especially useful when the garage is nearly full.
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Traveler Barbara Ives said she spent “quite a bit of time” driving around looking for a space before the new garage opened.
Traveler Robert Prescott said the timing worked out for his trip. “Saw that the garage was open at 9 a.m., and my flight’s at 11, so it kind of worked out,” Prescott said.
“I always check the website to see what spots are full, but I mean, this is going to be great. It’s going to open up a lot more spots,” he said.
The new daily garage is separate from the hourly garage that was badly damaged when a BMW SUV caught fire in May 2025. VanLoh said that garage will be repaired by next summer.
JAA officials said the route drivers take to reach the new garage will not change.
Here’s how much money the airport collected for Parking and Ground Transportation for the last ten years, as reported to the FAA by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
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