Members of the Augusta Aviation Commission learned more about an $800,000 federal grant the airport received.
The U.S. Department of Transportation selected Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) as one of 14 regional airports for the latest Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). The grant specifies the funds are to be “used for a revenue guarantee and marketing program for new nonstop service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).”
“We last did this type of grant, I think it was 2017, when we got the Washington D.C. service, so I felt like we were due again to get this grant,” airport executive director Herbert Judon, Jr. explained for ABD. “The federal government looks at airports that they think have the potential to bring in air service, but they also kind of look at divvying out these grants as well.”
Diane Johnson, Director of Business Development at AGS, has been working on this grant for two years. Chicago has been the target city throughout the process.
The funds can be used only to pursue service to Chicago but do not dictate which airline AGS should use. Judon said talks with potential carriers are ongoing.
“It’s always ongoing, but this is going to help us tremendously,” he said. “I always want to be a little bit guarded and not say anything’s for sure. But I think this will make the likelihood of us getting this service really strong.”
Judon added the grant submission included letters of support from American Airlines, one of the airport’s current carriers, and United Airlines. AGS is also served by Delta Airlines.
In addition to the airlines, there were letters of support from U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga. 12th dist.), both of Georgia’s senators, Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and community leaders. Support that was noted in the grant announcement.
“The community states that it has strong demand and its airfares are above the national average. The community also states that many local consumers must travel long distances to access the national airspace system and claims that ORD is its fourth largest origin and destination market.”
“This is kind of viewed more as a business destination, so I think it complements what we have right now, especially comparing Chicago with Dallas, since it’s kind of a midpoint,” said Judon. “Our Dallas flight has performed really well. I’ve always theorized that Chicago would perform very similarly to Dallas, just kind of getting you to the midpoint of the country and having that option to connect.”
AGS has also taken a step to finalize agreements with the newest tenant, which is building a terminal and hangar on airport property.
During a special called meeting earlier this month, the aviation commission approved documents detailing the relationship with NetJets, which provides private, charter jet service.
“We were trying to get contracts approved for the hangar management service agreement, and then also the management service agreement for the FBO (Fixed Base Operator), said Kenneth Hinkle, director of Aviation Services at AGS. “It’s three agreements, one for the land, one for the management of the hangar, and then the other one is for the FBO services. So, the parking and the fuel.”
Hinkle said the documents still need approval from the Augusta Commission.
The full text of the grant is at www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2026-09/2024FY-select-order.pdf
