Georgia’s senators announced Augusta Regional Airport is one of three in line to receive money from a program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
A news release from Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga) said Augusta Regional will receive $4 million from the FAA’s Airport Terminal Program (ATP). The money can be used to build and upgrade airport facilities, along with better transportation options for passengers.
“Georgia’s airports are a key driver of job creation and economic competitiveness,” Ossoff was quoted in the news release. “Our bipartisan infrastructure law will continue to deliver long-overdue upgrades to Georgia’s infrastructure for years to come.
Herbert Judon, Jr., Executive Director of the airport, calls the funds “a blessing.”
“We’re starting a terminal security checkpoint expansion project,” he told ABD. “Right now, we’ve got only two lanes, so we are expanding our security checkpoint to four lanes, and this particular grant will help towards that. The project is out for bid right now. We estimated maybe about a 10, 11, $12 million project, so this money will help pay for a portion of that project.”
Bids will open in December. Judon said the project should begin in early 2025 and be completed in time for the 2026 Masters Tournament.
Expanding the security checkpoints is one of the two priority goals outlined in the airport’s master plan. A second priority includes improvements to the airline check-in desks and waiting areas. It also includes modifications to outbound baggage screening and inbound baggage claims.
“It will help us in the recruitment of new airline service,” Judon explained. “It will help our customers because it will allow us to have more of a dedicated pre-check line. We currently don’t have the numbers in this airport to justify the additional screening equipment, but I’m not taking no for an answer. I am lobbying the TSA and also working with our congressional delegation to seek an exception to get the equipment as well.”
This is the second multi-million-dollar grant announced for Augusta airport. The first, in September, was more than $8 million for taxiway construction and upgrades. Those funds come from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), also funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Georgia is one of the most important aviation states in the nation, and as a member of the committee responsible for aviation policy, I will continue working to strengthen Georgia’s transportation infrastructure,” said Senator Reverend Warnock in a news release. “This latest investment will continue to take Georgia’s aviation economy to new heights.”
Just days before the second grant was announced, Augusta Regional received good news from Delta Airlines, one of two carriers that serve the airport.
Beginning on Nov. 11, Delta will resume what is called the “mainline service.”
“They’re going to start operating Boeing 717, so it’s a larger airplane. Right now, they operate CRJ 900 which are the smaller regional jets,” Judon said. “The 717 has 40 more seats, which is good for our customers. From a comfort standpoint, it means larger aisles, larger baggage areas, seats.”
He added it is an indication that more people are choosing to fly out of and into Augusta Regional.
“If you come to our airport, if you fly on our planes, you’ll notice that our planes are almost full all the time. So yes, they’re using AGS, and that’s a good sign for us,” he said.
The mainline service will be for the morning flights at this time. Those flights will operate daily at 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.”
