Will We Soon See Direct Flights from Jackson to Chicago?
Jackson council authorizes airport authority to accept federal grant for Chicago route
The Jackson City Council has authorized the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority to accept a federal grant aimed at restoring air service between Jackson and Chicago.
At its regular meeting Oct. 6, 2026, the council took up a resolution described in the agenda as a "RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE JACKSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD AND AGREEMENT, FAIN 69A34524400070027, FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNDER THE SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE RESTORATION OF AIR SERVICE BETWEEN JACKSON-MEDGAR WILEY EVERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND CHICAGO O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT." The agenda item did not specify the dollar amount of the grant or the full terms of the federal agreement.
The measure is tied to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program, which provides federal support to smaller airports seeking to maintain or restore commercial routes.
The resolution underscores that the proposed Jackson-to-Chicago O'Hare service would depend on federal subsidy rather than solely on market demand for the route. The exact grant amount and agreement terms were not available in council materials.