Augusta Regional sets new record for number of passengers using airport last year (Atlanta: transfer, price)

[Airforceguy]

More than 580,000 went through the airport last year, an increase of 5.18 percent over 2016, according to numbers provided by the airport. There have been increases nationally in the number of people flying so it is in line with that but it is also from people in the area using it instead of driving to alternatives, said Herbert Judon Jr., the airport’s executive director.

“People are realizing that the airport is a regional asset and instead of driving to other places are using our airport more frequently,” he said. Sometimes people go elsewhere because of a perception that flights out of Augusta are more expensive but often that is not true, Judon said.

“What we have urged people to do is to check,” he said. “Sometimes the flights are more expensive out of this market but sometimes they are not so it is important that people go and check and compare.” The airport Web site has a tool to help comparison shop flights, Judon said. Even if there is a price difference, “people look at the cost/benefit of driving two hours and some of the other challenges they may have and realize that small dollar amount still may be worth using the local airport,” he said.

Augusta Regional sets new record for number of passengers using airport last year | The Augusta Chronicle

[Pu239]

deplane... deplane...

[nortonguy]

Augusta Regional $18 million AGS campaign is underway. A few of the projects are finished. The airport received a $800,000 grant to attract new air service. Primary target is Washington, DC.

| Augusta Regional Airport

[AUGnative]

I have noticed flights full or nearly full on just about every Delta flight I have taken out of Augusta. Also I notice they are flying larger planes out of Augusta because of the demand. I prefer the smaller size of the Augusta airport and it is a breeze to go through security. The only downside is that you still have to connect via Atlanta. I wish there were more direct flights. I think a direct flight to the DC area would do well. As long as fares stay reasonable, I will definitely continue to fly out of Augusta. I would love to see a discount carrier enter the market and more flights

[GRU_Minion]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

I have noticed flights full or nearly full on just about every Delta flight I have taken out of Augusta. Also I notice they are flying larger planes out of Augusta because of the demand. I prefer the smaller size of the Augusta airport and it is a breeze to go through security. The only downside is that you still have to connect via Atlanta. I wish there were more direct flights. I think a direct flight to the DC area would do well. As long as fares stay reasonable, I will definitely continue to fly out of Augusta. I would love to see a discount carrier enter the market and more flights

I just booked flights for a business trip last week and was surprised to see an MD-88 (3x2 seat row config) used for my return flight. Was not surprised to see a CRJ-900 (2x2 seat row config) for my flight to ATL, as that's what I've usually seen at AGS. My flight out on the smaller plane is mid-morning. I imagine the larger planes are used on the early and late flights since everyone is connecting. I've never been a Delta fan, probably only because I've never preferred the ATL airport, but the flights on American just wouldn't work out for me this time. The Delta flights are definitely more full.

I, too, would love to see another carrier enter the market, or at the very least another destination or two other than AGS and CLT. A direct DC flight would definitely do well here, particularly with the influx of folks in the Cyber community. The only reason we lost that one in the first place was due to the merger and AA having to lose runway slots in DC from it.

[AUGnative]

I refuse to Fly American out of AGS because they put you on those turboprop cropdusters. One time on one of those was enough for me...but I do prefer connecting in Charlotte over Atlanta especially for flights going to the northeast. I was recently on a flight on Delta from Augusta to DC. I noticed that a good proportion of passengers on the flight from Augusta to Atlanta then transferred to the DC bound flight. It seems at the very least one of the airlines could offer CRJ jet service from Augusta to one of the DC area airports. I guess the problem is gate availablility at the DC airports, especially at DCA.

[GRU_Minion]

Originally Posted by AUGnative

I refuse to Fly American out of AGS because they put you on those turboprop cropdusters. One time on one of those was enough for me...but I do prefer connecting in Charlotte over Atlanta especially for flights going to the northeast. I was recently on a flight on Delta from Augusta to DC. I noticed that a good proportion of passengers on the flight from Augusta to Atlanta then transferred to the DC bound flight. It seems at the very least one of the airlines could offer CRJ jet service from Augusta to one of the DC area airports. I guess the problem is gate availablility at the DC airports, especially at DCA.

How long has it been since you flew American out of AGS? I haven't seen a turboprop plane from either airline in Augusta for years. Granted I'm not there every day, but that's my experience. It was always Delta that put me on a turboprop in years past, though. I've only flown AA until now for my current job. Didn't realize Delta offers extra corporate perks for my current employer, so that could change my opinion of them now I guess. Hard to beat Charlotte when Atlanta is the other option, though.

[AUGnative]

Was just at the Augusta airport a CPL weeks ago waiting for my Delta flight on an MD 88 and on the other side of the terminal sat a turboprop loading passengers for an AA flight to Charlotte. I don't think they use them every flight but they still use them. Delta only flies jets in and out of Augusta and increasingly have been larger jets on the early morning and late day flights

[nortonguy]

Hopefully nonstop flights to DC return next.

American Airlines Initiates non-stop Daily Service to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) is pleased to announce daily direct, non-stop, service to the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) beginning March 3, 2019. The Community can begin booking these flights as early as October 8, 2018.

[nortonguy]

Hopefully the nonstop flights to DC return next.

American Airlines Initiates non-stop Daily Service to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) is pleased to announce daily direct, non-stop, service to the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) beginning March 3, 2019. The Community can begin booking these flights as early as October 8, 2018.