Macon celebrates first nonstop flight to Fort Lauderdale

New Contour Airlines route offers easier travel and avoids Atlanta traffic

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)-  Excitement filled the Middle Georgia Regional Airport Tuesday morning as Macon-Bibb County celebrated its first nonstop flight to Fort Lauderdale.

The new route through Contour Airlines will run four times a week, giving travelers more flexibility and allowing them to avoid the drive to Atlanta.

“If you can hear all the energy around me, hear the buzz going on, it’s been this way for quite awhile, so I’m very, very excited about our inaugural flight to Fort Lauderdale,” said Mayor Lester Miller. “It seems like just yesterday we were talking about this new and exciting adventure that we’re about to take on, and not just for people in Macon can fly other people can come enjoy what we enjoy each and every day.”

For many passengers, convenience is the biggest benefit.

“I don’t have to drive to Atlanta, go through TSA, that’s about an hour or two hour drive depending on traffic,” said traveler Arais Haigler. “I can just come right here, ten minute ride to the airport and an hour and a half flight, I’m in Fort Lauderdale.”

Another traveler echoed that ease of access.

“It takes fifteen minutes to get here, and you park and it’s easy,” said traveler David Lucas.

Tuesday also marked the return of nonstop service from Macon to Baltimore, a route leaders say the community has been asking for.

“This is not a one way trip for anybody, people are going to be coming to Macon. It’s a regular thing,” Miller said. “We already started booking flights from Fort Lauderdale to Macon and vice versa. We’ve sold over several hundred flights, which fills up about six planes worth, so we are very excited about the way things have taken off so far.”

Leaders say expanding air service not only makes travel easier, but also helps attract new businesses and visitors to the area.