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Augusta Regional Airport averages 30,000 passengers per month, typically 100 times less than Newark Liberty International Airport. But Georgia airports will see the same numbers just a week before the Masters Tournament begins.
“It’s an organizational disruption for us,” Lauren Smith, the airport’s assistant director of marketing and public relations, told Business Insider.
“We will actually be hiring additional staff for the week. The airlines, TSA, and all the tenants here will be bringing in additional personnel to make sure we have enough staffing to handle the influx.” “I’m coming,” she added.
This year’s Masters at Augusta National is expected to be the Augusta Regional Airport’s busiest yet.
More commercial flights than ever before
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines always increase the number of nonstop flights in the lead-up to the Games, and the latter nearly doubled the number of seats to Augusta compared to last year.
“For years past, American Airlines has always offered nonstop flights during Masters Week,” Smith told BI. “Delta has probably only offered one or two additional flights, but I think they’ll match American’s response this year.”
For the first time, passengers will be able to fly directly to the convention from Washington, D.C., Boston, Austin, JFK, Palm Beach and Orlando on Delta Air Lines. Flights have also resumed from LaGuardia and Detroit airports, as well as expanded service from its Atlanta hub.
“With all these additional flights, our numbers are going to be huge,” Smith said. “Typically, the Monday after the Masters is the busiest day with mass exodus, but this year we think Wednesday and even Thursday will be just as busy.”
Augusta Regional Airport typically sees 62 planes take off and land a day, Smith said. During Masters Week, between 100 and 300 planes fly in each day.
But perhaps the most notable change from normal life will be the expected influx of private jets.
private jet
Augusta Regional Airport has two runways, one of which will be closed during the Masters to accommodate private jets.
“We could have up to 300 aircraft parked here at one time,” Smith said. “Of course, that changes from year to year because aircraft are getting bigger.”
A video from last year revealed the numbers, showing an endless line of jets filling the runway.
Last year, 1,758 business jets landed at the airport during the seven days of the golf tournament. flight aware. This was more than triple the number the week before the Masters.
The airport has its own Fixed Base Operating Company (FBO) to service private jets.
Aviation analytics firm WingX tracked business jet arrivals at Augusta and two other regional airports across the South Carolina border: Aiken and Barnwell.
Last year, the most business jets arrived from Atlanta, about 140 miles from Augusta, followed by New York City, it said. The most popular aircraft type was the Bombardier Challenger 300, which cost about $10 million.
How Augusta Regional Airport accommodates all Masters fans
In February, two more jet bridges were installed at the airport to ease boarding.
“Aside from Masters, our airport received additional grants to get the project off the ground,” Smith told BI.
He said most of the new commercial flights will be operated using jet bridges. And the terminal was recently elevated by about 1,000 feet.
This will come in handy as the airport introduces new concessionaires to operate restaurants, gift shops and bistros.
The influx of passengers also means the need for more cars to pick up passengers from the airport. Smith said some locals rent large vehicles for ground transportation, and the airport is involved in ride-hailing services.
“We’re in touch with Uber, Lyft, Toro to make sure they’re deploying geofencing and actually reaching out to drivers in neighboring cities to ask them to come to Augusta. ”
When the tournament ends and the visitors go home, Smith and his colleagues breathe a sigh of relief. But it’s also preparation for next year.
“As soon as the Masters ends, we are already setting goals and making efforts and plans for the next Masters,” she said.
“We want to make the best impression as the gateway to Augusta, so we need to make sure all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.”