JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the busy holiday season gets underway, representatives from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) are urging people to pack their patience.
On peak travel days including Wednesday, Nov., 27, Sunday, Dec. 1, and Monday, Dec. 2, airport officials expect as many as 15,000 passengers will fly out of Jacksonville International Airport daily. Therefore, travelers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight and anticipate some longer wait times.
Transportation Security Administration officials said one thing that can lead to problems at the security checkpoint is prohibited items being found in carry-on bags.
On Friday morning, TSA officials shared some items that have been confiscated at the airport. Knives, baseball bats, golf clubs, brass knuckles, chains, wrenches, drills, and even a 3-D printed firearm were included in the display.
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Ricky Garrett with TSA has seen a number of curious items over the years. As always, passenger and employee safety is his priority.
“The first thing that goes through my mind is to make sure everybody getting on board the aircraft and coming through the Jacksonville International Airport is going to be safe getting on their flight,” Garrett said. “If it’s a knife, I can give them some options. If it’s a firearm, we really don’t have an option. But they’re treated a little differently.”
JAX also wants passengers to have a plan for parking, as its third parking garage is still under construction. With that, officials expect on-airport parking to reach full capacity, forcing closures of its other lots and garages.
Officials closures will be posted in real-time on the JAX Airport website, the airport’s X (formerly Twitter) account (@JAXairport) and on Airport Road signage approaching JAX. People are advised to have a plan B for parking which can include the use of a ride-share program, or utilizing one of the off-site parking businesses on Airport Road.
- To avoid missing your holiday plans, check your Jacksonville flight online and monitor your flight status on the air carrier’s mobile app
- Arrive two to three hours before your scheduled departure and plan for delay or cancellation in the event your travel plans change
- Anyone who needs to book a last-minute flight should consider looking for one that leaves early in the day
To see the list of items you can and cannot bring aboard a flight, visit the TSA website.
