With all the expnasion at AGS(Augusta Regional Airport), are there any runway extensions, or additions in the future. (Savannah: construction)

[therealpattman]

With the thought of new airlines and Augusta going International. Do any of you see any plans to lengthen the runways or add additional runways the airport to accommadiate larger aircraft and airlines in the future, what airline could call Augusta a hub someday?

[EastsideDave]

I know there have been talks about wanting to change the runway configuration from the 2 cross runways to 2 parallel runways, but nothing has really been pushed with it.

Also, I know the city and the airport has a 'wish list' of things they want to do if they could get the money, like building another terminal for cargo I think on the eastern side of the property.

However, I don't see any airlines calling Augusta a hub any time soon.

[cwkimbro]

I would spend some time researching peer airports that are a little bit busier than yours.

Even with its growth, Augusta isn't nearly busy enough to need a second continuous operation runway.

Just look at Charleston, Columbia, and Savannah. All are busier and a couple considerably more so and they do just fine with two runways in a crossing pattern.

There are airports with 20 or 30 gates that have plenty of capacity with just one major runway.

Also, the runway is 8000 ft long, which is a pretty good size. The only planes it would have trouble accepting are the really large ones that used mainly for long-haul flights (transcontinental) that generally only operate at major hub airports.

It can easily handle a 737... and that is what the airport should encourage. The reason is rather simple.... You don't want the biggest aircraft possible... You want the aircraft that burns the least amount of fuel per passenger over a certain distance. A 747 doesn't do that unless its over 35,000 ft for 6 to 12 hours. A 737 is far more efficient for the small and medium hauls to the major east coast cities that are air hubs.

That is already larger than the typical planes usually flying to Augusta and it can take off on 6000 feet much less 8000.

A better way for Augusta to increase capacity would be to have more flights. More flights means more options for consumers.

[nortonguy]

The airport received $13 million in September 23, 2010 towards reconstruction of a runway... The largest amount of funds ever given to Augusta Regional from the FAA...

Augusta Regional gets millions in funding for runway reconstruction

[therealpattman]

I'm just suggesting the airport has a lot of land around it to accommidate,1 9000 x 150 ft runway and 2 8000 x 150 ft runways and the addition of more concourses.

[EastsideDave]

Yes, there is plenty of land around the airport to accommodate growth, but runway expansions/additions and new concourses/terminals are not needed with the current traffic.

On an interesting side note, I read in the article about the statue of golfer Ray Floyd moving to the airport, that during Master's week 300,000 people use the airport. If I'm not mistaken, wasn't the total airport traffic for last year around 500,000. If so, doesn't that mean that for the other 51 weeks of the year that only 200,000 use the airport? Just a thought.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by EastsideDave

Yes, there is plenty of land around the airport to accommodate growth, but runway expansions/additions and new concourses/terminals are not needed with the current traffic.

On an interesting side note, I read in the article about the statue of golfer Ray Floyd moving to the airport, that during Master's week 300,000 people use the airport. If I'm not mistaken, wasn't the total airport traffic for last year around 500,000. If so, doesn't that mean that for the other 51 weeks of the year that only 200,000 use the airport? Just a thought.

I read the same thing in the article and I'm thinking ''visiting'' was the keyword... I think she meant the total number of people visiting the airport.. The people who are dropping off or picking up relatives/friends from the airport. Along with the people who are flying to or flying out of Augusta...

Here is the breakdown by airline for November 2010.... 38,174 people used the airport in the month of November...
Airport statistics | The Augusta Chronicle

The airport probably average a little over 40k passengers a month last year...

[Metro Stats]

Augusta Regional has a long enough runway for the types of planes that are arriving and departing on a daily basis currently. It's not someones landing a Airbus A380 or Boeing 787 Dreamliner there anytime soon.