Contour Airlines announced their second destination out of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport Wednesday.
"I can't wait until December the 19th! Book my flight! I'm going to Tampa," Mayor Robert Reichert said.
You might be just as excited as Mayor Reichert to hear the airline will soon offer nonstop flights to Tampa, Florida.
"So whether you go North, or whether you want to go South, you can start your trip here at Middle Georgia Regional Airport," Reichert said.
Contour offered flights to Baltimore-Washington since coming to Macon just over a year ago, which are federally subsidized.
While the new flights to Tampa are not federally subsidized, CEO Matt Chaifetz said he's confident that the flights will pay for themselves.
"This new route is not subsidized by the essential air service program, but we're confident that it will work on the basis of the extraordinary passenger traffic that we're seeing on our scheduled flights up to Baltimore," Chaifetz said.
Earlene Appling, owner of Dab's Cafe in the airport, can attest to the traffic.
Appling said her business has more than doubled since Contour came to Macon. She expects it will only get better.
"Hearing that we're getting ready to go to Tampa and that Contour is expanding, you can see the look in my face. It's exciting," Appling said.
Flights will be twice a week on Wednesday and Saturdays.
For $79 each way or $158 roundtrip, Lisa Eblen said she won't have to drive.
"I think it's awesome. It'll give us the opportunity to fly instead of having to drive. My best friend moved to Tampa, so it'll make it more convenient for me to go and see her," Eblen said.
Chaifetz said the decision to choose Tampa came down to what destination was reasonably priced and in high demand for the people of central and south Georgia.
Tampa is now the 11 city added to the Contour Airlines network.