Jackson Regional Airport announces 10,000th passenger, considers adding new routes

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson Regional Airport, in partnership with Denver Air Connection, has officially confirmed that the airport’s 10,000th passenger of calendar year 2025 boarded Friday.

This is good news for travelers here in the region around the busy holiday season. It’s marking a historic milestone for commercial air service in West Tennessee.

Passengers here in West Tennessee board a milestone flight on Denver Air Connection at the Jackson Regional Airport and to celebrate a special drawing contest will follow for the holidays sponsored by Denver Air.

The winner of that drawing will receive a full year of free round-trip flights awarded as 12 total flight vouchers valid for travel to Chicago O’Hare or Atlanta in 2026 from Denver Air Connection.

“This day is a long time coming. It’s a historic day. Not since 9/11, have we reached to the 10,000 passenger mark here at Jackson, it’s a milestone for any airport because it changes the way the government funds us and changes the way the FAA looks at the airport,” said Steve Smith, director for the Jackson-Madison County Airport Authority.

Surpassing the 10,000-passenger mark represents one of the most successful years in Jackson Regional Airport’s modern history.

West Tennessee travelers have embraced Denver Air connection’s 50-passenger jet service, benefiting from convenient one-stop connections nationwide.

“We’re going from a class five airport to a class one airport and those things really make a difference going forward when we look to attract other carriers,” said Smith.

Smith mentions his retirement at the end of the year as director for the Jackson-Madison County Airport Authority following the board of airport authorities approval for Kyle Barron as the next executive director of Jackson Regional Airport.

“When we choose Denver Air Connection almost two years ago we had a runway to build and things to do. Denver Air Connection couldn’t come as soon as they wanted to come, but we got them here the first of December and they have been a marvelous partner to us. I have been here for 17 years and I’ve seen numerous small carriers come and go, but we haven’t had–this airport hasn’t had–Jackson hasn’t had a carrier that is working as hard to make this a success as a team here on the ground for Denver Air,” said Smith.

Smith tells us you can expect greater stability, expansion, and significant growth that will make a difference throughout the region.

“There are other routes that we would like to fly. To make that possible we need to be at the top of our game to put us on the level with the other commercial airports in tennessee which is really important,” said Smith.

Routes in the future could send flights to Orlando, Denver, Dallas or even Houston. For more information on how to make your entry for that holiday drawing offering a full year of free round-trip flights, click here.

For more news in the Jackson area, click here.