Published on November 22, 2024 at 4:10 pm
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Air travelers heading out of town for turkey can expect a record number of people taking to the air from Jacksonville International Airport this Thanksgiving weekend.
About 15,000 passengers a day are expected to depart at the peak travel times on Wednesday, Sunday and Monday, Michael Stewart, external affairs director for the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, said during a news conference Friday.
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“This year TSA is reporting that nationally, they will be screening an additional 6% more travelers compared to last year,” Stewart said. “So last year was a record, and we expect this year to be a record also.”
Airport parking
Officials warn travelers to expect changes in parking as construction of a new multilevel garage has eliminated some spots near the terminal.
Work just started on the airport’s third parking garage. The 151,000-square-foot garage will be built adjacent to the airport’s two existing ones. It is scheduled to open in late 2026 with six levels and room for 2,000 vehicles.
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Until the $37 million structure is done, construction has removed 500 existing spots from the airport’s daily surface parking lot.
In anticipation, the airport expanded satellite parking, meaning there are actually 300 more spots available.
Airport officials warn that parking will reach full capacity sooner than in past holiday weeks. Travelers should check the airport’s parking website.
Airport screening
Although holiday travel is predicted to be higher, the Transportation Security Administration reported fewer weapons confiscated this year compared with 2023.
About 50 guns have been removed from passengers or their carry-on luggage at the airport as of Friday, versus 74 for all of last year.
Remember that along with guns, many other items from switchblades to grenade-shaped bottles of hot sauce are no-nos on airliners, TSA Supervisor Rick Garrett said.
“Nothing sharp or dangerous that’s going to cause harm to anybody on the flight; nothing that is too large as far as tools — anything over 7 inches is not allowed,” he said. “Knives of any size are not allowed. You can bring some items, but brass knuckles are not allowed, so leave your brass knuckles at home. Your power tools are not allowed, and neither is anything that replicates a weapon of any type.”As for prohibited items that TSA agents have found, some of them includes serious firepower.
Among weapons grabbed this year was a 3D-printed plastic semiautomatic handgun with clip, capable of firing real ammunition. Knives hidden in the base of a flashlight were near deactivated hand grenades, a saw blade and a sharpened deer antler turned into a knife.
“It impacts the transition through the checkpoint,” Stewart said. “If one person has an item like this or a weapon, it slows down the process, so we try to get that word out to look at the TSA.gov website and see what restricted items we have.”
Along with whatever charges police may file, TSA may impose civil penalties of up to $14,950 per violation per person found with a gun. The list of prohibited items is at What Can I Bring?
