Section Branding
Header Content
Macon airport to add flights to Fort Lauderdale
Primary Content
Macon-Bibb County officials announced Thursday that Spirit Airlines will begin nonstop service from Middle Georgia Regional Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with fares starting at $49.
“This is our first low-cost carrier," said Doug Faour, Macon-Bibb Aviation Director. “It is the largest scheduled aircraft that will operate out of this airport. To my knowledge, it’s the first nonstop scheduled service to Fort Lauderdale.”
The airport is also undergoing major improvements. Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller highlighted plans for a new executive terminal and a 600-foot runway extension, allowing for larger aircraft and increased capacity.
The announcement marks a milestone in efforts to restore commercial air service to the region. Macon’s airline traffic dropped significantly after deregulation in the 1980s. By the early 2010s, the airport saw fewer than 1,000 boardings a year. But since Contour Airlines began service in 2017 to Washington, D.C., passenger numbers have steadily grown. Contour recently added service to Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Spirit’s new route will connect Macon to South Florida and, by extension, to dozens of destinations beyond, including the Caribbean and other U.S. cities.
Miller also emphasized the affordability and convenience of the new service for people in Middle Georgia as compared to flying out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
“I can drive here, pay $8 a day instead of $30, save a three-hour round trip and 20 hours from driving on a round trip, and get directly on that cruise ship,” Miller said.
Secondary Content
Author
Bottom Content
