Augusta Regional Airport is offering 13 direct flights to accommodate the influx of visitors for this year’s Masters Tournament.
The airport is adding American Airlines flights to Austin, Boston, New York, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Delta flights to Detroit and New York, according to a news release. With the airport’s existing direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington, D.C., that brings the total to 13.
The additions are an increase from last year’s Masters, when the airport added six flights for the tournament. Detroit, Austin, Boston, Phoenix and Philadelphia are new this year.
The flights are a boon for the airport as it continues to return to pre-COVID flight levels, Executive Director Herbert L. Judon said.
“As things begin to normalize, it is great to see the expansion and growth of the Masters Week airline flight offerings,” Judon said. “We are privileged to provide one of the main gateways for thousands of visitors traveling to and from our city.”
The flights will be offered April 2-10, according to the release.
It’s also a bonus for locals who want to leave the Masters Week crowds behind.
“I also want to remind our locals that these additional flights also represent an opportunity to ‘get out of town’ and enjoy service to destinations we may not usually provide,” Judon said.
“I think it’s great for Augusta. We’ve got a lot of flights,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson, a frequent flier. “It would be great if we would have them all the time.”
“This is great for Augusta,” Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight said about the extra flights. “They bring people to our city and with them, money.”
The airport traditionally sees four times its usual air traffic during Masters Week as well as an uptick at its fixed-base operation, where in excess of 1,000 private jets arrive and park for the tournament. The airport hosts musicians and other special guests to entertain and ease the crowds of travelers.
The FAA implements special air traffic procedures during the tournament including reroutes, altitude restrictions and other safety programs.
The amount of air traffic also increases flights to city-owned Daniel Field Airport as well as Aiken Regional Airport and Thomson-McDuffie County Airport.
