Jackson Free Press

Development of the area around the airport is at the center of the recently released Jackson Municipal Airport Authority's "Strategic Plan 2021."

The full report, which the Jackson Free Press received late Tuesday, shows that the airport will need to find funding from such development. The strategic plan cites the 2015 Federal Aviation Administration Terminal Area Forecast for the airport as not able to recover from the loss of Southwest Airlines within the next five years, growing in operations at a rate "increasing at less than 1 percent per year."

"JAN remains vulnerable to the instabilities within the airline industry, including changes to airfares, airline staffing and mergers," the report states. "As service is concentrated on fewer hubs, the risk of losing service continues to be a significant threat to the Authority's economic stability and customer convenience."

Another potential weakness the report indicated was the rising cost of the airport's infrastructure requirements, including the stretch of the East Metro Corridor that borders the JMAA-controlled land on the east. "The Authority is responsible to maintain a portion of the EMC on Authority-owned property. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will not take possession and responsibility for the section of the EMC until after it is complete; until then the Authority bears the financial responsibility for repairs and maintenance."

However, the report also expects the East Metro Corridor to play an important part in the future of the airport. "The completion of the East Metro Parkway on the east side of JAN could not only provide economic stimulus through additional business activity but would likely result in utility improvements that could be leverage to facilitate additional investment in the surrounding communities."

The report was also positive. "Some of the stakeholders maintain favorable opinions of the JMAA and recognize its value to the region and the state. Many agree that the airports have tremendous potential with the proper local, state and federal support. This potential can be translated into land development options, improved tenant services, enhanced customer experience and employee engagement."

The plan is the product of work by Jacobsen Daniels, a Detroit-based airport and transportation planning form, as well as the brainchild of the CEO of the JMAA, Carl D. Newman, who was not available to comment today. As the first new chief executive officer in 25 years, Newman hired the transportation firm to interview employees, stakeholders and others about the airport's "environment, including its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats." These were then used to make recommendations in the report to the JMAA commissioners.

"With a recent change in leadership, the Authority identified the need to develop a new vision for the future and a new plan to achieve that vision," the report states.

Jacobsen Daniels interviewed members of the community, termed stakeholders, and the list included Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber, the mayors of Pearl, Brandon, Flowood, the entire JMAA board, airline representatives, Mississippi Development Authority and other economic groups from the area, as well as members of the business community, including realtor Mark Bounds and the United Postal Service.

Email city reporter Tim Summers, Jr. at [email protected]. Read more about the airport sage at jfp.ms/airport. See more local news at jfp.ms/localnews.