Saturday, August 20, 2016

New airline service coming to Jackson

The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority issued the following press release:

Jackson, MS – The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) and Southern  Airways Express invite all members of the media to attend a press conference on Monday, August 22nd, at 8:30 a.m. announcing new non-stop and direct air service to/from Jackson- Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN). Representatives from the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, Southern Airways Express executives, and local dignitaries will be available for interviews immediately following the press conference.

The press conference will be held inside the lobby of Atlantic Aviation’s executive terminal located at 120 North Hangar Drive, Jackson, MS 39208. Click this link for details about https://www.atlanticaviation.com/location/JAN.

Southern Airways Express is a Memphis (Southaven, Mississippi)-based airline, with a fleet of 9-passenger aircraft, including the Caravan 208, Grand Caravan 208-B, and Piper Chieftain PA-31. Some specialty flights are operated on McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 jets as DOT Part 380 Public Charters. The airline markets codeshare fights for Branson Air Express, Elite Airways, Orange Airways, and Buzz Airways under its SOUTHERN logo and moniker. Founded in 2013, Southern Airways Express, Southern Airways Charter, Sun Air Express, and Executive Express Aviation are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Southern Airways Corporation. www.iFlySouthern.com

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

More direct flights = better airport. Thank you Southern Airlines! JAN please do everything you can to bring more airlines.

Anonymous said...

From JAN to where?

Anonymous said...

Non-stop and direct from Jackson to????

Anonymous said...

Map on their website shows Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, and Destin.

Anonymous said...

Since there are vacant gates on the side of the terminal that houses Delta, I assume that's where Southern Airways Express will be flying from. While it's not as sexy as an announcement about a national carrier coming to town, this is still good news. There are plenty of locations within 6-8 hour driving distance that would be more convenient to fly to on small planes. Hopefully there is enough demand here and the fares are low enough to be accessible but high enough so that it isn't like a flying Greyhound bus (I'm looking at you, Southwest). Good luck, Southern Airways Express!

Anonymous said...

They are using prop planes that seat 6-8.

Tarmac Talmadge said...

You can fly jets out of Madison with no bullshit.

Anonymous said...

cesna aircrafts carrying less than 10 people. all it takes is 1 'healthy' mississippian to board. death wish at a discount.

Anonymous said...

This is like a pedicab driver announcing trips from the Bus Station.....with the same mortality rate

Anonymous said...

They were operating out of Madison, previously. Enjoyed flying with them. No security. Got to ride shotgun on a Grand Caravan and talk to the pilot on the way down to Destin. Best airline experience in 20 years. Hope this means they're growing.

Best of luck!

Anonymous said...

"The airline markets codeshare fights for Branson Air Express, Elite Airways, Orange Airways, and Buzz Airways under its SOUTHERN logo and moniker."

Be careful with this airline. We booked a flight to Cancun with Branson Air express and the whole thing turned into a circus. It was classified as a "public charter". The airline lost their certification to fly into Mexico (something about Orange Airways breaching a contract) so they delayed us half a day leaving New Orleans while they tried to get their creditials worked out with the Mexican government. Then they canceled our return flight at the last minute and required us to come home a day early...not only cutting our vacation short, but requiring us to eat the cost of a night at the resort. Several attempts to recover costs from the airline failed because "they don't pay for that."

I'll never fly with them again.

Anonymous said...

It seems like this is really just moving service we already have from Bruce Campbell in Madison to JAN. I don't think they'll be operating out of the main terminal as they are a fixed base operator and advertise not having to go through TSA as a perk. I hope they do well and expand service but this isn't the low cost alternative we need and won't putp pressure on the other airlines to lower cost or expand options.

Chuck And P.T. said...

How can one fly out of a world-class, international airport without TSA involvement?

Anonymous said...

There are regularly scheduled commercial passenger flights out of Madison?

Anonymous said...

12:28:

"World-class"?? You don't get out much, do you?

Anonymous said...

Chuck... by flying out of a FBO. Just like all kinds of private (personal and commercial) airplanes do everyday. This 'airline' is nothing more than a private charter - which, BTW, is not a bad deal for JAN. Glad to have them move to JAN - more convenient to many potential users than Bruce Campbell.

Anonymous said...

12:28 You fly out without TSA involvement by flying on a 9 passenger airplane from general aviation rather than the commercial terminal.

1:14 I believe this dame airline has been flying to Memphis and Destin out of Bruce Campbell for about 2 years now. Not sure hiw regularly scheduled it is though.

Anonymous said...

Why would you not like this??

Anonymous said...

Flying from the general aviation hangers: "lobby of Atlantic Aviation’s executive terminal located at 120 North Hangar Drive, Jackson"

and nothing that I read said anything about 'regular scheduled'.

This is a good gain for JMAA and a good service to have. Nothing but moving from Madison to Jackson, and nothing to crow about as far as new airlines, but a great way to get to close-by destinations easily - especially for folks that like to fly. Much more fun than loading up into the 26 - 50 seat commuters that we are pretty much stuck with for much of our connections.

Anonymous said...

Flying on a 9 seat airplane with one pilot and one engine sounds like fun. Throw in a little weather and it could be down right exciting. I think it's a pretty sturdy and reliable model though.

Anonymous said...

For those who used this service from Madison, how much were tickets?

Anonymous said...

Flying a single engine with one pilot is very fun. And its very safe. If the weather is an issue, the pilot ain't gonna fly. And the Cessnas and Pipers they are flying have a good reliability history.

Beats driving for safety.

Stearman Fan said...

If they've moved from Bruce Campbell to JAN, why are their jets still parked at Campbell?

Anonymous said...

"jets"

Tarmac Ted said...

Is it being suggested that driving to the Wiley Stokes Air Terminal, finding a parking spot, walking six blocks and across a tarmac is actually more CONVENIENT than driving in slow, uncongested traffic on Old Canton Road in Madison and parking and walking a hundred feet and coming back to find your vehicle unmolested?

Anonymous said...

Tarmac Ted, when you fly general aviation you park at general aviation and don't pay for parking. The lot is right in front of the building. I've never heard of anyone having their car broken into at JAN, you do know it is in Flowood and not Jackson right?

Anonymous said...

", you do know it is in Flowood and not Jackson right? "

you should read more. that little sliver of land where the airport sits is technically Jackson, unless the state manages to take it away.

Anonymous said...

My only complaint about this airline is that, every time I tried to book a flight this summer, they were sold out. I don't know how much ability they have to expand and add flights when demand is high.

I can't remember what I paid for a ticket to Destin. I remember it wasn't cheap, but I really, really hate traffic and love to fly, so it was worth it for me.

Hate that they're leaving MBO, but I suspect they had at least as many customers from Rankin and Madison.

Anonymous said...

10:16, I know it is technically in Jackson but it is surrounded by Flowood. Tarmac Ted was implying that it is subject to the high crime of South or West Jackson and that just isn't true. The airport is in just as safe an area as Bruce Campbell field and is probably safer due to operating 24 hours a day and more robust security.

Tarmac Ted 2 said...

I didn't suggest that at all. You improperly inferred it. I did suggest, however, that while flying out of Madison, your vehicle will probably not be molested. My truck was keyed at the JAN terminal and my wife's left tail light was popped with the red plastic still right there on the JAN garage floor.

Hold on 7:38....Please show me wunna them Single Engine Jets flying out of Madison. All their planes that were at Madison were twin engine jets or twin prop.

Anonymous said...

Technically its bordered by Flowood and Pearl, not surrounded by either. Its a block of Jackson that sits squarely in Rankin County to be more precise.


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