The westbound flight to San Francisco is scheduled to depart JAX at approximately 5:45 p.m. EST. The eastbound flight to Jacksonville is scheduled to depart San Francisco at approximately 8:15 a.m. PST. United plans to operate the year-round flight on Mondays and Fridays with a Boeing 737-800. 

“We’re excited to provide the Jacksonville community with new year-round nonstop service to San Francisco starting next year,” said Mark Weithofer, Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning at United. “With this new route, travelers in Northeast Florida will be able to conveniently reach the West Coast and from there, destinations across the Pacific with United’s leading global route network from our San Francisco hub.” 

“Prior to today’s announcement the Bay Area was one of our largest unserved markets,” Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) CEO Mark VanLoh said. “United’s new nonstop flight not only provides us much-needed access to the West Coast, but it also unlocks convenient connecting service to Asia.” 

The flight is timed to allow Northeast Florida travelers a one-stop connection to many destinations within United’s Pacific network including to destinations such as Sydney, Singapore, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Manila and many others. 

In addition to new service to San Francisco, United currently offers nonstop service from Jacksonville to the airline’s hubs in Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR) and Washington D.C. (IAD).

Tickets are on sale now at www.united.com. 

Three credit rating agencies, Moody’s Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC, (KBRA), assigned the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) ratings of A1, A and AA, respectively. Each company determined the JAA’s financial outlook as stable while it seeks a $230 million bond issuance for construction of a third concourse (Concourse B) at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX).

The positive ratings are expected to enable JAA to issue the bonds at more favorable rates, thereby lowering the authority’s costs. It’s the organization’s first time issuing public debt in nearly 20 years.

Key positive indicators for KBRA’s AA rating include the Authority’s strong financial profile with high historical debt service coverage and outstanding liquidity, a large and growing market supported by military, business and tourism demand and a manageable capital program. JAX is currently the only medium hub airport to receive an AA rating from KBRA.

Moody’s attributed their A1 rating to the “airport’s dominant market position as the primary commercial service airport for Northeast Florida, supported by a large and growing origin-and-destination service area with limited nearby competition...The stable outlook reflects expectations that the JAA will maintain strong debt service coverage above 3.0x and liquidity levels above 600 days cash on hand while completing the Concourse B project without material cost overruns or delays.”

“These ratings signify the strong financial position of the JAA,” JAA CEO Mark VanLoh said. “This allows us to finance projects that matter to the Northeast Florida community such as the construction of Concourse B. Not only will it bring additional gates which are desperately needed, but new customer service amenities and great dining options for travelers.”

The S&P justified their A rating by stating that “the stable outlook reflects our expectation that the authority will maintain healthy financial metrics that are in line with the current forecast, supported by generally positive enplanements trends and no additional debt needs.”

“This bond issuance is a critical component for the financing of Concourse B,” JAA Board Chair David Hodges Jr said. “These strong ratings are the result of wise financial decision-making at all levels of the Aviation Authority management and staff.”

Added JAA Chief Financial Officer Ross Jones: “The strength of management, the current status of the Concourse B project and the Authority’s strong financial metrics are likely factors these agencies considered while issuing their guidance. We look forward to going out to the bond market and securing financing for the completion of our largest construction project in the last 20 years.”

With credit ratings now in place, the Aviation Authority will seek financing in the open bond market for Concourse B construction in early May.