JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) opened up a new US Border and Customs Inspection Facility at Jacksonville International Airport for corporate jets in another sign of growth at JIA. This will shorten travel distances for corporate jets and also help free up gates for commercial travelers.
The chief operating officer of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority tells Action News Jax that before the new facility opened, corporate jets would have to fly as far as Savannah or Fort Lauderdale instead of landing in Jacksonville if the airport ran out of room. They now say this move will cut down travel time and have benefits for commercial passengers.
If corporate jets facing an inconvenient landing sounds like rich people problems, JAA’s COO Tony Cugno laid out the benefits for the average commercial passenger.
“What it does is that it opens up additional gates on concourse A and C, because right now these aircraft actually cleared the main terminal,” said Cugno.
A ceremonial ribbon was cut on the new 6,000-square-foot Federal Inspection Service facility. US-FL District 5 Representative John Rutherford also says this aids the safety of US Customs Agents.
“What’s happened in the past is that the officers have actually responded to the individual airplane and on the tarmac. They had to go out on the tarmac to do their job!” said Rutherford, a republican.
“Now they’re gonna process them through here,” said Rutherford.
The new site off Barnstormer Road cost $9 Million dollars. Who paid for it? Koonyo and Rutherford confirm it was a mix of airport and federal dollars.
This addition comes as the airport’s $340 million expansion project featuring the construction of a new Concourse B, which will open late this year.
It’s all part of the larger expansion plans for the airport and Jacksonville.
“The goal of the airport really is to act as a catalyst for economic growth and development with the city. As the city continues to grow and his companies continue to relocate here, we wanna make sure that we have the flights and the gates to help me that demand and essentially to connect Jacksonville to the world,” said Cugno.
The new facility will become operational in 30 days while it undergoes further security preparations.
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