On Friday, Federal Judge Carlton Reeves denied the State of Mississippi’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the state’s efforts to take over the largest airport in Mississippi.

“JMAA might in fact continue to operate the airport for years to come. That is because after the case wraps up here, there will likely be another appeal to the Fifth Circuit and perhaps a petition for U.S. Supreme Court review. And if all that litigation ends with a victory for the defendants, there will be an administrative process in Washington, D.C., in which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decides whether to approve a transfer from JMAA to the new, state-controlled authority… For now, though, the status quo has been maintained,” said U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves in his opinion.

The case will now proceed through the normal channels of legal discovery before a trial date is set. In the meantime, the airport’s Chief Executive Officer says that JMAA will continue to move forward with plans to improve its facilities, expand services, and run the airports in the best interest of the community at both Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field Airport. 

“Over the past two years, we have continued to make progress, and we look forward to continuing in a positive direction,” said Beckett. 

On May 22, during its Board Meeting, the Commissioners celebrated milestones accomplished under Beckett’s leadership, including: 

• Igniting the use of more than $22 million in federal funds for Taxiway Rehabilitation;
• Earning a “clean” audit opinion for the second consecutive year;
• Successfully completing the annual Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) inspection with outstanding results.
• Securing over $8 million in federal grant funding in the past year;
• Welcoming a new nonstop service from Jackson to Nashville with Southwest Airlines;
• Starting construction coordination and project planning to renovate 10 restrooms in the JAN terminal;
• Securing a nationally experienced fixed-based operator at Hawkins Field Airport, bringing fuel discounts for its users and increasing general aviation activity; and
• Generating nearly $2 billion annual economic impact in the State of Mississippi.
• Advancing major terminal restroom renovations at JAN;
• Welcoming a new, nationally experienced fixed-base operator (FBO) at Hawkins Field, expanding general aviation activity and fuel discounts for users;
• Driving nearly $2 billion in annual economic impact for Mississippi.