New JIA plan to curb COVID-19 spread, encourage people to fly

Jacksonville, FL — As summer quickly approaches, the Jacksonville International Airport has a new plan in place to help protect their passengers when traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority is launching Jax Airport Cares.

It's hoping the plan will help stop the spread of COVID-19 and encourage people to fly again.

It’s a program created to protect the health and safety of its passengers like Tana Johnson.

"From what I’ve seen, yeah, I don’t have any fear right now. I would definitely fly again," Johnson said.

The airport is putting in enhanced safety measures like more hand sanitizer stations and sneeze guards at the ticketing counter.

It'll help protect not only the passengers coming through there, but airline employees too.

The airport is also using something called electrostatic fogger disinfection.

The spray lands on all surfaces and keeps it sterilized for up to three to four months.

Last month the airport saw a 95% reduction in passenger traffic and slowly it's gaining back some of its passengers.

"Yesterday we experienced 2,000 passengers use our facility when a normal summer day is about 11,000 passengers," Jacksonville Aviation Authority Mark VanLoh said.

Right now, airport employees will also undergo temperature checks and screenings when they come to work.

The facility is doing everything it can to encourage social distancing, with signs posted around the airport.

Obviously, wearing the mask has been a huge part, just making sure you don’t have that fever that everyone talks about, the cough, just being hypervigilant about that kind of stuff," Johnson said.

From now on, when you head through TSA you won't have to give your boarding pass to an agent; instead, you'll be asked to scan your own ticket and hold up your ID.

Economy lots will also remain closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on shuttle buses.

You can park at the hourly and daily garage lots at a reduced priced.