FAA Opens New Airspace Over Jacksonville to Reduce Florida Summer Travel Delays

ORLANDO, Florida – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is preparing for the 2025 summer travel season by introducing a new ultra-high sector airspace over the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center in Florida.

Announced during the FAA’s 2025 Summer Air Traffic Operational Summit on Tuesday, this measure aims to decrease flight delays in one of the busiest airspaces in the National Airspace System (NAS).

Summer flight schedules are expected to rise by 4% compared to last year. Weather, particularly thunderstorms, caused a 40% increase in delays in 2024 compared to 2022-23.

The new Jacksonville airspace adds “layers” for air traffic, allowing more efficient routing to reduce congestion and navigate around weather disruptions, especially on the U.S. and Florida East Coast.

Florida Airports Most Likely to Benefit

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)

These airports, located within or near the ZJX’s jurisdiction, handle significant traffic and are prone to weather-related flight delays, particularly from summer thunderstorms.

The new airspace layers will allow for more efficient routing and alternate routes to navigate disruptions, improving travel reliability for passengers.