Masters Golf Tournament Draws Influx of Private Jets to Augusta

The annual golf event transforms a small regional airport into one of the busiest private aviation hubs in the world.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:00pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the Masters golf tournament and private jets arriving at Augusta Regional Airport, with overlapping planes of green fairways, blue skies, and silver aircraft.The Masters golf tournament transforms a small Georgia airport into a bustling private aviation hub, as elite travelers and corporate leaders converge on Augusta for the annual sporting and networking event.Augusta Today

Every April, the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, attracts a massive influx of private jets, with over 2,100 expected to fly into the area this year. The small regional Augusta Regional Airport transforms into a bustling hub of private aviation activity, with planes arriving and departing in near-constant succession during the week of the tournament. Private aviation companies scale up staff and resources to handle the surge in demand, which has become a key part of the Masters experience for many high-profile attendees.

Why it matters

The Masters has become a premier event for private aviation, with the tournament serving as a major networking and dealmaking opportunity for CEOs, executives, and other elite travelers in addition to being a premier sporting event. The sheer volume of private jet traffic that descends on Augusta each year highlights how major cultural and sporting events are increasingly driving private aviation activity, rather than just traditional travel patterns.

The details

Augusta Regional Airport, which normally has two runways, closes down one and the adjacent taxi area during Masters week to use exclusively for aircraft parking. This year, the airport added pavement to the airfield, allowing them to park about 40-50 additional planes. Private aviation companies like Wheels Up and FlexJet set up elaborate on-the-ground operations to support their clients, with Wheels Up hosting a 'Wheels Up Clubhouse' less than 10 minutes from the course. VistaJet also opened a 'Vista House' hospitality space last year to cater to its members. These companies say the Masters has become a 'signature event' and a key driver of private aviation activity, with CEOs, executives, and other high-profile attendees using the tournament as a networking and dealmaking hub in addition to attending the golf event.

  • The Masters tournament takes place each April.
  • This year's Masters is expected to see over 2,100 private jets fly into the Augusta area.

The players

Herbert Judon Jr.

The Executive Director of Augusta Regional Airport.

Gene Wojciechowski

A sportswriter who describes the private jet scene in Augusta during Masters week as a 'sea of airplanes' up and down the taxiways.

George Mattson

The CEO of private jet membership company Wheels Up, which has a 'Wheels Up Clubhouse' in Augusta during the Masters.

D.J. Hanlon

The Executive Vice President of Sales at private aviation company FlexJet, which sets up a private terminal at Thomson-McDuffie airport during the Masters.

Leona Qi

The President of VistaJet U.S., which hosts a 'Vista House' hospitality space for its members during the Masters.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Here's how you can always tell when it's Masters week in Augusta: The azaleas are usually in full, glorious bloom, you can't find a hotel room for under the cost of a semester at Yale, and private jets blot the sky like it's the Oshkosh air show.”

— Gene Wojciechowski, Sportswriter

“We continue to see strong demand around the Masters, consistent with what we've experienced in previous years. It remains one of the most active and important moments on the calendar for private aviation, and we're well positioned to support that demand.”

— George Mattson, CEO, Wheels Up

“The sheer volume that goes through Augusta every year is always outlandish. That week probably sees close to 4,000 aircraft movements over a really condensed time.”

— D.J. Hanlon, Executive Vice President of Sales, FlexJet

What’s next

Augusta Regional Airport plans to add more pavement to the airfield this year to accommodate an expected increase in private jet traffic during the 2026 Masters tournament.

The takeaway

The Masters golf tournament has become a premier event for private aviation, with the influx of private jets to Augusta each year highlighting how major cultural and sporting events are increasingly driving private aviation activity. The tournament serves as a key networking and dealmaking hub for CEOs, executives, and other elite travelers in addition to being a premier sporting event.