We all know what we adore about Jacksonville International Airport.
You can get in and out easily, pickups don’t feel like a tactical operation, and the piano player and rocking chairs radiate calm rather than chaos.
What our treasured local transit hub doesn’t have, at least not yet, is reach.
The airport is considered a “medium hub,” according to VanLoh.
That gap shows up most clearly when you look across the Atlantic. London remains the top target for a future nonstop international flight, Jacksonville Aviation Authority President Mark VanLoh told The Citizen.
“Demand data shows it’s already the city’s favorite overseas destination,” he said—even without a direct route.
Right now, about 88 passengers a day make the trip from Jacksonville to London.
More than half of them are driving to Orlando to catch a nonstop flight from there. In airport planning terms, that’s known as “leakage,” and it’s one of the biggest data points used to convince airlines a new route can succeed.
“It’s about 100 people a day for an airline to take notice,” VanLoh said.
He said attracting an international carrier for a nonstop London flight is a long game. It can take years of negotiation, and it typically requires a sizable incentive package, often exceeding $13 million.
Jacksonville International Airport. (Wikimedia Commons)
Those funds usually come from private business partnerships rather than taxpayers, as federal rules prohibit airports from directly subsidizing airlines.
“Drawing a foreign carrier for a nonstop London flight remains a challenging process that can take years of negotiation,” he said.
Beyond London, the airport is also studying domestic routes with strong demand, including Seattle and San Francisco.
Jacksonville is currently classified as a medium hub, but has been steadily expanding.
More than a dozen new destinations have been added in the past year, including Fort Lauderdale and San Juan.
VanLoh said West Coast nonstops are at the top of the list.
VanLoh said airlines rely heavily on demonstrated demand when considering new routes, pointing to past examples of service launches tied directly to local travel patterns.
That kind of steady, year-round demand is one of Jacksonville’s advantages.
Major employers like Mayo Clinic and Fidelity Investments generate consistent passenger volume, setting the city apart from more seasonal Florida markets.
At the same time, the airport is investing in its physical footprint. A new six-story parking garage with 2,200 spaces is underway, along with plans for additional gates aimed at reducing congestion during peak travel times.
But the ultimate question remains — if an airport known for relaxation can also deliver reach.