Becky Shealy, vice president of business development for Augusta Aviation, said between 500 and 600 aircrafts will land at the airport between Monday and Sunday of Masters Week.
“We on an average day see from 10 to 20 aircrafts,” she said. “Masters Week we anticipate seeing 80 to 100 planes on the field.”
The aircrafts, privately owned by corporations or individuals, must reserve an incoming landing slot for all flights beginning Monday. Air traffic controllers begin operating the Daniel Field tower on Wednesday, Shealy said.
Typically, Wednesday is the busiest traffic day at Daniel Field followed by Friday. However, Shealy expects lower traffic numbers on Friday and Sunday this year because they fall on Easter weekend.
Many travelers using Daniel Field land in Augusta during the morning and takeoff the same night. Although most planes don’t park overnight, Daniel Field is prepared to host overflow from Augusta Regional Airport where the private plane terminal is under construction and affecting some parking areas.
Last year, Daniel Field was in the midst of construction that forced them to operate from a triplewide trailer and portable restrooms during Masters Week. A newly renovated terminal opened March 6.
Pilots and crew members will be treated to catered lunches in the new terminal space. They can also relax in 25 zero-gravity lounge chairs.
“Everything’s fresh and new,” Shealy said. “We’re just excited to be one of the major gateways of the city.”
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