A Regional Gateway on the Rise

Transforming into an aviation leader with more to take off

Jackson Regional Airport is in the midst of a transformation. Located in West Tennessee, this formerly modest facility has recently emerged as an aviation leader, earning the distinction of Tennessee’s 2024 Airport of the Year. “We display the award proudly in our fixed based operation,” shares Executive Director, Steve Smith.

“In years of doing this, I’ve been airport manager of the year, I’ve had board of the year, but airport of the year, we had to chase it. It was one that I’ve always thought we deserved here. We had a great year last year, and the Aeronautics Division in Tennessee thought that as well. So, they  rewarded us with that great honor.”

Rebuilding from the Ground Up

The airport’s recent successes are the result of years of planning and execution. In 2023, Jackson Regional undertook a complete reconstruction of its primary runway, a challenging but necessary project. “Our runway surface had gotten down where we had areas that were less than 65 on the scale  and aeronautics knew we needed to work on it, we knew we needed to work on it,” Smith acknowledges.

“However, because of the economic boom that’s going on right now in West Tennessee, our business was so good that we really hated to close the airport for a year and fix anything.”  Still, they forged ahead with the project, taking the runway 36 inches below the original surface and building it back up. “Not only do we have a great, beautiful, smooth runway, we have a runway with a new base that has a higher load factor than what we had before, and it’s going to help us with the larger airplanes,” he depicts.

Despite the disruption to jet traffic, the project was crucial, especially with growing demand driven by Ford Motor Company’s BlueOval City, located just 40 miles away. “We began to work with them a couple of years ago, trying to work a deal to be their airport of choice in the area,” Smith explains. “There’s only one traffic light between us and BlueOval City, so it takes about 25 minutes to get there on Interstate 40. We’ve been able to sell that to Ford. Now it’s our job to try to hold up what we promised them we would do.”

Along with the runway rebuild, the airport replaced edge lighting and airfield signs, resealed other runways, and taxiways, regraded the grounds, and reseeded airfield greenspace. “Now the entire airfield, and the Aerodrome surface all looks brand new, and it’s really pretty. It just looks like what it is, a very updated runway,” he touts. In addition, a BIL grant provided $1.2 million towards a complete rebuild of the control tower, updating everything from windows and furniture, to paint and equipment.

Another major milestone was the return of TSA security screening after a 15 year absence, opening the door for new opportunities. “That allowed us  to start jet service from Jackson to Atlanta and Jackson to Chicago,” Smith details.

“We’ve been without jet service since before 9/11, so to bring jet service back in a larger airplane, that really helped us last year to become airport of the year.” He notes that the flights, operated by Denver Air Connection using Embraer 145 regional jets, have performed above expectations since launching in December.

Rebranding as a Regional Hub

Owned by both the city of Jackson and Madison County, the airport has been working diligently to align its image with its growing role in West Tennessee’s economic development. In early 2024, the airport formally changed its name from McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport to Jackson Regional Airport.

“We reached out last year to 23 different counties and municipalities in the West Tennessee area and all of them are feeling the impact of the industrial growth that’s going on with BlueOval city,” Smith imparts. In addition, Jackson has seen investment from Georgia-Pacific, who have opened a Dixie Brand tableware manufacturing facility in the city. The community is also home to a Toyota plant and an automotive battery facility is currently under construction. “So, all of that had a lot to do with what we focused on last year, which was to upgrade the air service,” he asserts.

To accommodate its growth, Jackson Regional Airport is currently in the design phase of a new passenger terminal, supported by a $1 million BIL grant. “We went to the state of Tennessee with everything that was going on and asked them if they would buy into our project, too,” Smith outlines.

It was recently announced that Governor Bill Lee’s most recent budget includes an additional $10 million in funding for hangar infrastructure and $4.5 million in low-interest loans to advance further development. “So, we’re looking at another big year as far as construction,” he says. Another upcoming project includes a 400 car parking lot, which will handle the capacity of the new terminal.

Talent Shortages and Succession Challenges

Staffing remains a concern for Jackson Regional Airport, and Smith himself has returned to his role as interim Executive Director, after retiring in January. “I haven’t missed a day of work since the day I retired,” he quips. With a succession plan that didn’t work out, the challenge has been finding someone with the experience and qualifications for the role. “We advertised at AAAE, we advertised at Indeed, and we advertised somewhere else, and we got 15 applications,” he reports. “Of those, two of them were qualified, but our board didn’t feel like either one had the qualifications to take over an airport that was running as fast as this one. So, we have started another search now, looking to find someone that might be trainable over the next six months to step into this position.”

Fortunately, the airport has been able to retain most of  its FBO linemen over the past three years. “We have worked really hard with retainage bonuses, extra time off, all of those things that you can do,” Smith conveys. “We have just recently taken our chief lineman and promoted him to assistant FBO manager and began to work him into the system as our next FBO manager.”

Strategic Partnerships and Economic Growth

Jackson Regional Airport is actively pursuing partnerships that support its plans for growth, including a potential collaboration that would see a $1.8 million Cirrus Jet maintenance center on-site to support its jet service operations. The airport is also working with the Tennessee Valley Authority and the local chamber to market a 65-acre parcel adjacent to a Tennessee National Guard Unit. Smith relays, “We feel like it would be better suited for an MRO of some type, and we’re currently working on what it’s going to take to market that.”

On the hospitality front, the addition of a $58 million Wyndham hotel on the airport grounds is in the proposal stage. “We’re in the middle of an industrial park here, and there  are no hotels on the west side of Jackson. This will be the first one, and we’re excited about that. Right now, it’s a really good time to be in the airport business in Jackson, Tennessee,” Smith highlights.

All of these developments have helped to bring a surge in aviation activity. “We’re running a 300–400% increase. For 11 years, we were relegated to a Cessna Caravan going in and out of St Louis, in and out of Atlanta. And those were  eight to nine passenger airplanes,” Smith recalls. “Now, people are beginning to say, ‘If I fly to Chicago, I’m going to be able to fly back to Jackson.’ That’s the hardest thing for small airlines, to make it known in the area that they can do that.”  Fuel sales have also grown, with the airport reporting an increase from 300,000 gallons annually fifteen years ago, to a million gallons a year and growing.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Smith is focused on supporting the success of Denver Air Connection and expanding hangar and infrastructure capacity. “We have the ability to move into the FAA funding, where we’re funded just like the major airports. It’s $1.2 million a year more than what we’re funded now,” he clarifies. “Getting that in place and making it work is actually job one. Job two is to build the infrastructure and to build the area where we can actually have some hangars.” This includes the construction of six additional T-hangars, which will hold 10 aircraft each. “That’s an additional 60 aircraft that we can add to our fold here and be able to take care of,” he continues.

As he balances retirement with continued leadership, Smith observes, “My golf game is not progressing like I had originally thought it might, but the airport’s progressing better than anyone thought it would.” With all that Jackson Regional Airport has planned, that progress shows no signs of slowing.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Jackson Regional Airport

What: An award winning airport with big plans for the future

Where: Jackson, Tennessee

Website: www.flyjackson.com