After two years of lessened air traffic involving the Masters’ Golf Tournament, the staff at Augusta Regional Airport is gearing up for “a full-blown Masters” this April.
That’s how Ken Hinkle, director of Aviation Services, described it when addressing members of the Aviation Commission’s Masters Committee at a meeting last week.
With around 50 days left before the start of the airport’s busiest week of the year, the commission met to get updates from all departments on preparations for what is anticipated will be a return to pre-pandemic tournament traffic levels.
COVID-19 forced a postponement of the tournament in April 2020. It was held in November 2020 but without patrons attending. The April 2021 tournament was played with a limited number of spectators.
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Executive Director Herbert Judon Jr. said he has received tentative schedules from American Airlines and Delta, the airport’s two airlines.
“On the peak days, we’re going to have upwards of 23 to 24 flights with American plus the Delta flights. We’re going to have large aircraft; we’re going to have the large regional jets. We’re going to have 737s and 757s, planes that carry upwards of 200 people,” he said.
Judon said additional flights also create opportunities for local people who want to travel away from Augusta.
“It’s an opportunity for local people to have direct service to markets that we typically that we typically don’t go to,” he said. “It looks like we may have Philadelphia, Chicago O’Hare, New York. Obviously, some of the markets we already have Dallas, DC, Boston, Miami.”
The airport will launch a local advertising campaign promoting the travel opportunities, said
Airport Public Relations & Customer Service Manager Lauren Smith.
“The locals always leave so the out of towners can come in. Once we get the final list, we’ll be promoting those flights to hopefully get people to try the airport and travel somewhere new,” she said.
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Whether arriving or departing, passenger traveling through Augusta Regional Airport will be greeted by music and “PALs”.
“Our “PALs”, passenger assistant liaisons, are customer service employees that work in the termina. They assist passengers with wayfinding, with their luggage and help wheelchair assistance as well,” Smith said, adding, “We have had our spring Music Fest for several years now and we invite local talent to come out and perform. So, they’ll be performing for each day of Masters for at least three hours a day.”
The airport is waiting for the final word on this year’s tournament, but Hinkle told committee members he has been tracking other major sporting events, including the upcoming Super Bowl being played in Los Angeles and most have returned to pre-COVID-19 attendance levels.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
