In less than four weeks, golfers and fans from around the world will begin arriving in Augusta for the traditional spring events. Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) has rolled out a virtual welcome mat, and management is trying to show financial appreciation to staff for the long hours ahead.
First to step on the golf course will be the competitors for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA). Beginning April first, two practice rounds will be played at Champions Retreat, with the final round Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC).
Young golfers take center stage on Sunday, April fifth with the Drive, Chip Putt competition at ANGC. On April sixth, the best golfers in the world begin practice rounds for the 90th Masters Tournament.
AGS has updated its website with a new pop-up on the home page designed to make the visit to Augusta as smooth as possible.
“We’re just trying to be a little bit proactive,” airport Executive Director Herbert Judon, Jr. explained for ABD. “If you come to our website, you can get information on some of our preparedness and some things that, if you’re flying into our airport that week, for example, are available.”
The page provides a link for aircraft operators to connect to the FlightBridge site, once their trip has been confirmed. There is also information regarding in-flight catering services that will be available.
“A lot of it is catered toward the private and the business aircraft, which makes up a good amount of our traffic that week. But it’s just another tool to make the customer experience even better each year and allow them to be proactive,” said Judon.
A final section provides aircraft operators with the most up-to-date fee schedule at AGS.
“We are going to continue to look at that and add additional tools and different links to add a customer-centric portal for our people coming here that week,” Judon said.
Judon said they have begun preliminary meetings with tenants at the airport and the facility’s business partners. It is a way to help the airport keep up with the growing demand.
“The footprint of the airport is growing much slower than the Masters business, and this year is going to be, especially on the commercial airline side, even bigger than ever. So, it comes around fast, he said.”
In addition to private aircraft, there will be an increase in commercial flights, including direct flights to some destinations added for the tournament week.
“You may have heard me talking to the (Aviation) Commission about how we squeeze so much into this facility, and we really do, but it takes a lot of planning and coordination, Judon said.”
It also takes a lot of work by the airport staff at all levels. This year, Judon would like to provide special compensation to those workers.
“That’s our peak period here, and everybody out here works overtime. Some people, many people, work two jobs to support the airport operation. What they do is kind of yeoman’s work that week, because we unbelievably squeeze thousands and thousands of people and airplanes into a small facility, and we do it successfully, and we do it in most cases without accident or error,” Judon said.
The special compensation will be $500 for all employees who work during Masters Week. The plan must still be approved by the Augusta Commission.
The Masters’ information pop-up is on the airport’s website www.flyags.com
The list of expanded commercial flights is at https://flyags.com/limited-time-direct-flights-during-golf-tournament-week-in-augusta/
