British Airways and Wal-Mart Announce Major Job Creations for Jacksonville and Baker County

British Airways, one of the world's largest airlines, and retail giant Wal-Mart have made significant announcements that will bring hundreds of new jobs to Jacksonville and Baker County. The airline plans to open a 500-employee reservation center in Jacksonville, while Wal-Mart is considering a massive 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Baker County, potentially creating 500 jobs. These announcements follow months of speculation and reinforce Jacksonville's reputation as a hub for international companies.

Key Takeaways:

• British Airways plans to open a 500-employee reservation center in Jacksonville, scheduled to open in March 2021, which will be the airline's fourth reservation center in the United States.
• The center will be located at 4899 Belfort Road off Butler Boulevard and will be the airline's fourth in the country, following New York, Houston, and Orlando.
• The airline expects to spend around $25 million annually in the Jacksonville economy after the center opens.
• If the Wal-Mart distribution center deal is finalized, it could bring around 500 jobs to Baker County.
• The distribution center is expected to be 800,000 to 1 million square feet in size and will take up 130 acres in the Enterprise East Industrial Park.
• Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Weinstein would not confirm nor deny the Wal-Mart deal, but acknowledged awareness of a potential large company project in the area.

Statistics:

• 500: Number of employees the British Airways reservation center will employ.
• 800,000-1 million square feet: The size of the potential Wal-Mart distribution center.
• 130 acres: The area that the Wal-Mart distribution center will take up in the Enterprise East Industrial Park.
• 500: Number of jobs that the Wal-Mart distribution center could bring to Baker County.
• $25 million: The amount that the British Airlines expects to spend annually in the Jacksonville economy after the center opens.
• 60,000: Number of people employed by the British Airways Group worldwide.
• 96: Number of countries that the British Airways worldwide route network covers.
• 21: Number of U.S. cities where British Airways operates flights.
• 41 million: Number of people who flew on British Airways flights last year.
• 30 million: Number of international passengers who flew on British Airways last year.

Sources:

• "Report Errors in British Airways Story." The Jacksonville, November 11, 2000, corrected on page A-1 yesterday.
• The Times-Union staff writers P. Douglas Filaroski and Earl Daniels, as reported.