AUGUSTA, Ga. — Azaleas, pimento cheese sandwiches, and … private jets.
Masters traditions aren’t limited to the humble patron-friendly options at Augusta National Golf Club each April.
During the 2025 Masters, nearly 3,900 private charter flights flew into Augusta-area airports, according to data provided by Ace Jet. As golf’s most famous tournament and the first major championship of each year, the Masters lures celebrities and wealthy businesspeople like no other event in the sport.
Augusta Regional Airport gets the bulk of that activity, and even has a special page on its website dedicated to special Masters flight needs, like catering options, hotel transfers, and car services. But due to its small size other airports nearby and even out-of-state have to pick up some of the slack, too.
Ahead of this year’s tournament several private aviation companies were seeing increased demand compared to last year.
“I feel like they keep getting there earlier and earlier every year,” Jet Linx VP of marketing Nicole Swickle told Front Office Sports. “Because obviously golf is Thursday to Sunday, but you’re seeing people come in as early as Easter, which is kind of wild this year.”
The Masters footprint continues to expand beyond the tournament itself. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which was first played in 2019, hosts its final round at the home of the Masters on the Saturday before the men’s major week begins.
Wheels Up, which has a deal with Masters rookie Ben Griffin, was expecting a 5% increase in flight volume into Augusta this year.
“We typically see a lot of last-minute flights around major moments like this,” Wheels Up chief sales officer Mark Briffa told FOS. “Given that Augusta itself is serviced only by small regional airports, there is limited commercial access and a highly time-sensitive travel window.”
NetJets has built a new private terminal in Augusta, and the company annually hosts a Masters week party in town.