Augusta, Georgia is one of the most uniquely seasonal private aviation markets in the country — a quiet regional airport that becomes one of the busiest IFR hotspots on the planet for one week each April. The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club drives between 3,500 and 3,800 aircraft operations at Augusta Regional during tournament week, while the rest of the year the airport returns to its normal pace serving Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon), the Augusta medical sector, and a steady corporate base. From The Jet Guys' home base in Upstate South Carolina, AGS is just over an hour by air.
This page covers what you need to plan a private charter to or from Augusta: the airports that serve the metro and how to choose between them, the unique logistics of Masters week, route data for the city pairs The Jet Guys handle most often, what to expect by season, and answers to the questions clients ask before they book. The Jet Guys is a WYVERN Registered Broker and arranges every charter through vetted Part 135 operators.
For more detail on Masters logistics specifically, see our companion piece: Flying Private to The Masters.
Augusta has two main airports for private aviation, plus a meaningful South Carolina overflow option that becomes operationally important during Masters week. Outside Masters, AGS handles every aircraft category and DNL serves light jets and turboprops with the closest access to Augusta National.
Also known as Bush Field, AGS is the primary commercial and general aviation airport for the metro. The 8,001-ft runway accommodates every business jet category up to ultra-long-range, the airport-operated FBO (Augusta Regional Aviation Services) handles the main FBO function year-round, and during Masters week the airport opens additional satellite ramps and a temporary FBO facility.
Daniel Field is the closer airport to Augusta National Golf Club — just 3 miles from the course and a 10-15 minute drive — but the runway lengths limit it to light jets and turboprops only. For Masters clients on smaller aircraft, the proximity advantage is meaningful: a Citation CJ3 or King Air landing at DNL puts you at the gate of the course faster than any other option.
Just across the South Carolina state line, Aiken Regional becomes operationally significant during Masters week as overflow capacity when AGS reaches its limit. About 30 minutes from Augusta National by car, with a temporary tower during tournament week and full FBO services.
A smaller GA option about 25 miles west of Augusta. Used as additional overflow during Masters week.
Masters week is unlike anything else in U.S. private aviation. Each year during the first full week of April, Augusta Regional sees between 3,500 and 3,800 aircraft operations — making it briefly one of the busiest IFR hotspots in the country. Several things every Masters-bound client should understand:
PPR Reservations Are Required. All four area airports (AGS, DNL, AIK, HQU) require Prior Permission Required slots during Masters week, handled through the FlightBridge portal. Slots fill early and the lead-time matters — many regular Masters attendees book the next year's slots before leaving the current year's tournament.
Special Event Fees Apply. AGS charges Masters-specific landing fees ($4.01 per 1,000 lbs of gross landing weight for aircraft over 12,500 lbs) and ramp parking fees ranging from $150 to $4,000 per aircraft per day depending on size. These are real budget items for a Masters trip.
Runway Closures and Temporary Towers. AGS closes Runway 8/26 to use as overflow parking during Masters. AIK and DNL operate temporary FAA control towers for the tournament window. AGS opens an East Operations satellite FBO and a North Overflow ramp.
FAA Preferred Routes. The FAA publishes a Domestic Notice each year specifying preferred arrival and departure routes for the four area airports during the Masters window (typically April 5-13). Operators not using preferred routes can expect ATC route amendments that may delay flights. The Atlanta ARTCC implements extended scheduling/metering for inbound flights from neighboring centers.
Aircraft Repositioning. Many Masters operators drop passengers and reposition the aircraft elsewhere for the week to free ramp space, then return to pick up at week's end. This is standard practice and the Flight Desk handles the coordination.
The 2026 Masters wrapped April 12. The 2027 Masters is scheduled for April 5-11, 2027. Clients planning to attend should begin coordinating with the Flight Desk well in advance — typically 6-9 months out for guaranteed slot availability.
For comprehensive Masters trip planning details, see our companion piece: Flying Private to The Masters.
The Jet Guys don't publish fixed prices because every Augusta trip is priced differently. Rates depend on departure city, aircraft category, dates, and operator availability. A Tuesday corporate trip from Charlotte to AGS in October prices very differently from a Masters week heavy jet from New York.
A few factors drive Augusta pricing more than others.
For one week each April, Augusta charter pricing operates on a different scale entirely. Operator daily minimums extend to multiple days, repositioning fees apply when aircraft are moved off-airport during the week, ramp parking fees can run into thousands of dollars, and demand for any available aircraft outstrips supply. Six to nine months of lead time is standard for serious Masters trip planning. Clients booking inside two months should expect very limited options.
For 51 weeks of the year Augusta is a quiet, predictable corporate market. Pricing reflects standard operator daily minimums, aircraft category, and route. Short regional trips from Charlotte, Atlanta, or Greenville typically use light jets and price against operator daily minimums. Trips from the Northeast or Midwest are priced more straightforwardly on flight time.
Outside Masters week, the Northeast-to-Florida corridor generates steady empty leg flights that pass through or near Augusta. Empty legs into AGS come up regularly. They require date flexibility but can substantially reduce trip costs. The Jet Guys' Flight Desk tracks empty legs daily.
Beyond Masters, Augusta's steady aviation demand comes from Fort Eisenhower (the U.S. Army Cyber Command headquarters), the Augusta University Medical Center, and a corporate base anchored by AGCO, Doosan, and Textron. Tuesday-Thursday weekday demand at AGS reflects this rhythm.
For a quote tailored to your specific trip, contact The Jet Guys Flight Desk.
Augusta's calendar is dominated by one event. Outside the first week of April, demand is steady and predictable.
This is the only week of the year where Augusta operates as a national-scale aviation event. Some specifics:
Augusta sits at the edge of the central Savannah River region, roughly equidistant between Atlanta, Charleston, and Savannah. Many private charter clients combine an Augusta trip with destinations in surrounding South Carolina or Georgia.
Just 30 minutes east across the Savannah River, Aiken is one of the country's most established equestrian communities — winter polo, steeplechase, and a concentration of horse country estates. Aiken Regional (AIK) handles most aircraft categories for direct fly-in. Worth knowing for clients with equestrian interests pairing Augusta with Aiken.
About 30 minutes northwest of Augusta, this 71,000-acre Army Corps of Engineers reservoir is the dominant recreation lake of the central Savannah River area. Popular for boating, bass fishing, and weekend retreats. Most charter clients land at AGS and drive.
About 2.5 hours southeast of Augusta by car, or a 35-minute flight to Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV). A natural multi-stop pairing — a Friday Masters arrival, then onward to Savannah for the weekend after the tournament concludes. The Jet Guys' Flight Desk regularly builds Augusta-Savannah-Charleston multi-stop trips.
About 2 hours by car or a 45-minute flight to Charleston International (CHS). A common multi-stop pairing for Lowcountry trips combining Augusta business or Masters attendance with Charleston dining and historic district visits.
About 2.5 hours by car or 40 minutes by air. Common multi-stop pairing for clients combining Augusta with corporate meetings in Atlanta — particularly during weeks when Atlanta hospitality is overflow capacity for Masters week.
About 2.5 hours southeast by car, or a 45-minute flight to HXD or SAV. For Masters attendees who want to extend the trip with a weekend of golf, Hilton Head is a frequent pairing.
About 2 hours northwest by car or a 50-minute flight to GSP/GMU. The Jet Guys' home market — common pairing for Masters attendees combining Augusta with Lake Keowee or Cliffs at Glassy properties in the Upstate.
For most charters, Augusta Regional (AGS) is the right choice — the 8,001-ft runway accommodates every business jet category, the airport has full-service FBO operations, and U.S. Customs is available. Daniel Field (DNL) is the closer airport to Augusta National Golf Club (3 miles vs. 12 miles for AGS) but its 4,000-ft runways limit it to turboprops and light jets only. For Masters week, the Flight Desk often recommends DNL specifically for clients with smaller aircraft, since the proximity to the course outweighs the modest aircraft category trade-off. For heavy and ultra-long-range jets, AGS is the practical answer year-round.
Significantly. AGS sees 3,500-3,800 aircraft operations during the tournament week — making it briefly one of the busiest IFR hotspots in the United States. All four area airports (AGS, DNL, AIK, HQU) require PPR reservations through the FlightBridge portal. AGS imposes special event fees: landing fees per 1,000 lbs gross weight, plus ramp parking ranging from $150 to $4,000 per aircraft per day. Runway 8/26 at AGS closes for use as additional parking. AIK and DNL operate temporary FAA control towers. The FAA publishes preferred arrival/departure routes via Domestic Notice. Many operators reposition aircraft off-airport during the week to free ramp space, then return for departure. Six to nine months of lead time is standard for Masters bookings. For comprehensive Masters logistics, see our companion guide: Flying Private to The Masters.
Outside Masters week, Augusta charter pricing is straightforward and reflects standard operator daily minimums, aircraft category, and route. Masters week is a different universe — operator daily minimums extend, repositioning fees apply, ramp parking can run into thousands per day, and aircraft availability tightens dramatically. The Jet Guys' Flight Desk provides fixed-price quotes through vetted Part 135 operators — request a quote here.
Outside Masters week, yes — the Northeast-to-Florida corridor generates steady empty leg flights that pass through or near Augusta. Empty legs into AGS come up regularly. They require date flexibility but can substantially reduce trip costs. During Masters week empty legs are essentially nonexistent given concentrated demand. The Jet Guys' Flight Desk tracks empty legs daily.
The Masters Tournament is scheduled for April 5-11, 2027 at Augusta National Golf Club. Practice rounds begin Monday April 5, the tournament runs Thursday April 8 through Sunday April 11. Clients planning to attend should begin coordinating with the Flight Desk well in advance — typically 6-9 months out for guaranteed slot availability at AGS, DNL, or AIK.
Roughly 50 minutes from Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP) or Greenville Downtown (GMU) to AGS. This is well within the range of any light jet for a 6-passenger trip. Because the flight is short, operator daily minimums often apply — a light jet is typically the most cost-efficient option.
Yes — Augusta pairs naturally with Atlanta (40 minutes), Charleston (45 minutes), Savannah (35 minutes), and Hilton Head (45 minutes) for multi-stop Southeast trips. A common Masters pattern: arrive AGS for tournament week, depart Sunday afternoon to Charleston or Hilton Head for a post-Masters weekend. The Jet Guys' Flight Desk regularly builds multi-stop Southeast itineraries through one aircraft and crew. Contact us to discuss your routing.
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