If you want to fly out of Macon, there's a new place you can soar to. Contour Airlines took off to Tampa for the first time from the Middle Georgia Regional Airport. Contour Airlines started making trips to Baltimore-Washington International Airport more than a year ago in Macon. Now, the airport manager says Florida is a target market for them.
Inside the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, Mattison Graham says this is also the first time she's flying alone.
"I'm nervous, but I'm excited," said Graham.
She plans to spend Christmas with her dad in Tampa and says she can fly out of Macon with ease.
"It's more convenient to fly out of here. It's a faster way to get to Tampa for me and Hartsfield is very busy," said Graham.
Other passengers like Lori Gilmer travel to Florida for work, and with a round trip ticket costing between $150 to $200, she says less time and a cheaper cost sounds like a good deal to her.
"I'm hoping that if that's the case, then I can fly out of here more frequently," said Gilmer.
Ten to 15 people boarded the flight Wednesday afternoon. Airport Manager Erick D'Leon says he hopes the flying experience helps passengers feel connected.
"It's just easy. You park your car, you walk 100 feet to the check in area and you check in and see faces that you know," said D'Leon.
The Essential Air Service program subsidizes the flight Contour Airlines makes to BWI unlike the flights to Tampa. Representatives have said they believe the Tampa flights will pay for themselves. Graham says she can get used to flying out of Macon.
"I like the takeoff the best because it's like a roller coaster," said Graham.
D'Leon says this is just the beginning and they are looking at possibly adding other other destinations in the future.