Macon-Bibb County Air Service Incentive Program

Posted: July 30, 2025

Macon-Bibb County (the “County”), as the owner and operator of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport (the “Airport”), is pleased to offer the following incentive and marketing program for new entrant and incumbent airlines seeking to provide non-stop service to destinations not currently served with non-stop service from the Airport (this “Program”).

• Qualifying Service. “Qualifying Service” is non-stop scheduled passenger service meeting the Eligibility Criteria and Program Limitations, with a frequency not less than two round trips per week, between the Airport and any destination that has not been served with non-stop service from the Airport within the preceding two (2) years (each such destination a “Qualifying Destination”).  The County will award an incentive to only one airline for each Qualifying Destination on a first-come-first-served basis.
• Fee Waivers. The County will waive one hundred percent (100%) of the Landing Fees, Common Use Fees, and RON Fees associated with the Qualifying Service for a period of two (2) years from the initiation of the Qualifying Service.  If an airline provides both Qualifying and non-Qualifying Service, the County will prorate its waiver of any fees not directly attributable to the Qualifying Service (e.g., fixed rent) by the ratio of the airline’s Qualifying Service operations to the airline’s total operations at the Airport.
• Ground Handling Discounts. The County presently exercises its proprietary exclusive right to provide ground handling services at the Airport.  As such, the County will offer lavatory and air start services for Qualifying Service free of charge, for a period of two (2) years from the initiation of the Qualifying Service.  Additionally, the County will extend a twenty-five percent (25%) discount on all other ground handling services offered by the County, on top of other discounts which may be available to all airlines, for a period of two (2) years from the initiation of the Qualifying Service.
• Marketing Support. Subject to the availability of funds, the County will provide up to Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per Qualifying Destination toward local media advertising costs (e.g., television, print, radio, locally targeting internet advertising) that promotes and facilitates local awareness of the Qualifying Service. The Airport must be featured prominently in any advertising supported under this Program, be consistent with the Airport’s then-current branding and advertising guidelines, and shall be subject to the County’s prior review and written approval.  Marketing support shall be available for two (2) years following the initiation of the Qualifying Service.  The County will also provide non-monetary marketing support, in its discretion, in consultation with the airline, including press conferences, hosting a ribbon-cutting or other ceremonial events, promoting the Qualifying Service on its social media platforms, organizing meetings with key business leaders in the area, etc.

Eligibility Criteria and Program Limitations

In addition to the eligibility criteria and limitations above, this Program is subject to the following:

• Relation to Prior Programs. This Program replaces and supersedes any prior air service incentive program offered by the County.  Any airline receiving an incentive under such prior program(s) may elect to instead receive an incentive under this Program for which it qualifies, provided that the aggregate length of incentives do not exceed two (2) years or one (1) year if the incentive is a new entrant incentive.
• Term. The term of this Program will be four years, commencing on July, 30, 2025 and ending on July 31, 2029 (the “Term”), provided, however, that if an airline qualifies for an incentive under this Program during the Term, the airline shall be entitled to the full two years of incentives, even if extending beyond the Term.
• Agreement Required. Airlines must submit a written application and execute a written incentive agreement with the County in order to receive the incentives described herein.  An airline must also execute the Airport Use Agreement then prescribed by the County.  An airline must be in compliance with all agreements with the County and current on all amounts owed to the County in order to qualify for the incentives described herein. The County reserves the right to terminate the incentive benefits if an airline is in arrears with regard to rates, charges, and other fees due to the County after it has given that airline thirty (30) days’ notice to pay the arrearage or cure the failure to comply, and includes in such notice a reference to the County’s intention to terminate the incentives under this Program in the absence of such payment or cure.
• Incentives Subject to Cancellation. If a participating airline discontinues any service to the Airport, reduces the frequency of the Qualifying Service below the requirements outlined above, fails to maintain a quarterly average on-time performance with respect to the Qualifying Service of seventy-five percent (75%) or better, or otherwise fails to satisfy the eligibility requirements outlined herein during the incentive period, the airline shall forfeit its right to claim any additional incentives offered through this Program. The County may in its discretion require reimbursement of any waived fees and incentive payments for early termination of the Airport Use Agreement by an airline or airline’s event of default thereunder.
• Less Than Year-Round Service. The incentives described herein are based on year-round service, not less than two round trips per week.  The County shall prorate these incentives for less than year-round service.  For example, an airline proposing seasonal service spanning 24 weeks would be eligible to receive no greater than 24/52 of the marketing incentives offered hereunder (or $27,962.31 of $60,000.00).  The proration of marketing incentives, if any, shall be described in the agreement with the airline.
• Net Increase Required. An airline is not eligible for an incentive under this Program if the Qualifying Service will not result in a net increase in service from the Airport provided by the airline.  This restriction applies whether the airline proposes to reduce service to one market but increases service to a new market, or the airline adjusts the number of flights it operates to an existing market, if there is no net increase in service by the airline.
• Affiliated Carriers. For the purposes of eligibility for this Program, affiliated airlines, joint venture partners, and predecessor and successor airlines in an airline merger or acquisition shall be treated as a single airline.  A regional airline is eligible for the Program if it markets and sells its service independent of any branded airline which currently offers service at the Airport.  Incentives may not be transferred or assigned to another airline.
• Public Charter. The incentives offered herein are available to Part 121 air carriers conducting scheduled operations and/or Part 135 air carriers conducting on-demand operations pursuant to Part 380 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
• Program Funding Limitations. The County will not provide more than $150,000 in marketing support to any one airline in a fiscal year.  All funds used in this Program are derived solely from non-airline, non-aeronautical airport revenues (e., parking and terminal concession income) and/or other sources of funds available to the County for such programs.  Incentives under this Program do not have the effect of increasing the rentals, fees, or charges imposed on aeronautical users of this airport, including other airlines. The Program shall be funded each year through the normal budget process as approved by the County’s Board of Commissioners. Should demand under this incentive program exceed available funding, the Airport will reserve the right to request additional program funding from the County.  However, any additional appropriations would be subject to approval by the County’s Board of Commissioners in its sole and unfettered discretion. Financial benefits conferred through the Program shall not exceed the appropriated or amended amount in any one fiscal year. In the event that the financial benefits conferred do not equal the appropriated or amended amount, excess funds shall not be carried to future fiscal years.  Incentive funding shall be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis until the available funding has been depleted.  However, if the budgeted appropriated funds are insufficient to provide all budgeted incentives in any given year, the County shall prorate the available incentive funds among all Program participants.
• Subordination. This Program is subject to and subordinate in all respects to federal law and FAA rules and regulations, including without limitation the federal grant assurances executed by the County in connection with the Airport, as the same may be amended or replaced from time-to-time. The Program may be amended, modified, or discontinued at any time by the County for any reason or as required by federal law, FAA rules and regulations, or the terms of the County’s grant assurances.

Application Procedure

Airlines interested in participating in this Program should submit a letter of interest prior to the initiation of service, identifying the Qualifying Service and incentives sought, to: [Director of Aviation, Douglas Faour, dfaour@maconbibb.us].  The County will notify the airline within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application of whether it deems the service(s) described as eligible for the Program, and provide a form of agreement setting forth the incentives and the terms thereof for the airline’s review and execution.  Incentives will not be awarded without a written agreement.